Kiihtelysvaara Church

The Kiihtelysvaara church, originally built in 1770, was destroyed in an arson attack in 2018. A new multi-purpose church was constructed directly on the historic churchyard site, now incorporating the functions of the parish house. This new design reflects the parish’s goal of creating a church with open doors and high community engagement.

The new church’s design reflects its contemporary purpose within a historic setting, embodying a blend of old and new. On one hand, it continues the long Finnish tradition of cruciform churches and is constructed from logs. On the other hand, both the exterior and interior are distinctly modern; the log structure uses non-sag laminated logs, and the building incorporates modern services.

The former church had a limited space program, consisting only of a 450-person church hall with an anteroom and a sacristy. The new church, however, features a 120-seat hall and primarily comprises multi-purpose spaces. Following an “under one roof” principle, the building now accommodates all parish activities, from church services to clubs and cooking classes.

Functionally, it’s crucial that the church hall, club room, and coffee room effectively serve their purpose both individually and when combined. The architecture draws inspiration from tradition without merely copying the old design. For instance, while viewing the landscape wasn’t a feature of traditional cruciform church architecture, the new church incorporates large, low-set windows that offer views of the beautiful churchyard and surrounding landscape.

The central church hall features a direct, ceremonial entrance oriented west-to-east. A skylight illuminates the hall from above, and side lighting on both sides of the altar emphasizes the choir’s special nature. The sacred character of this central section is also visible on the building’s exterior, where its roof rises higher before dropping to cover the more everyday-use areas on the sides. The entire building is topped with a beautifully patinated copper roof.

The interior’s character is defined by the extensive use of wood, combined with both indirect and direct natural light and picturesque views. The altarpiece, salvaged by the sexton from the burning church, has become a significant part of the new church’s narrative.

A commitment to repurposed aesthetics is also evident throughout the church’s interior. For instance, the organ was moved from the Länsi-Pasila chapel, while the altarpiece, church textiles, and main hall handles were all saved from the previous church. Additionally, a large portion of the loose chairs from the former parish house have been reupholstered and reused.

Technical solutions

The building’s frame features non-sag timber, while the roof structures are composed of CLT panels and NR trusses. The roof is stiffened with 120 mm CLT panels, and its unique shape is formed by 58 different trusses.

Construction project

The project plan was finalized in 2020. Architectural design was tendered in spring 2021, with other design areas following in autumn 2021.

The log frame supplier was selected during the design phase, and the contractor also participated in the design process. The contract was a fixed-price, shared contract with associated subordinated side contracts. Work began in August 2023 and concluded in November 2024.

The building frame and water-tight roof were constructed under fixed, sliding weather protection, which was installed after the foundations were laid but before the free-standing floor was poured and the log frame erected. The information model was crucial for the prefabrication of the upper floor structures, as trusses were modeled with all intermediate rods to ensure proper routes for building services. Numerous work platforms were required for the upper floor spaces during construction; these were ultimately left as permanent walkways. Indoor air temperature and relative humidity were continuously monitored to ensure optimal installation conditions.