Henning Larsen has unveiled the latest site pictures of its first church project in Copenhagen, offering a fresh architectural vision for contemporary church design. Conceived as a reimagined church typology, the Ørestad Church responds to the evolving ways people seek meaning and spirituality in today’s world. Designed as an open and inclusive gathering place, the design serves beyond as a traditional worship space to serve as a shared civic space. Crafted in timber and wood shingles, the architecture draws inspiration from Ørestad’s expansive natural landscape, grounding the building in its local context.
Envisioned as a warm and inviting architecture, designed to express community, openness, and a contemporary interpretation of faith. With construction underway, the completion expected in 2026 showcases architecture that responds to the diverse ways people relate to sacred spaces today. Churches, for centuries, have been places of solace, gathering, and belonging, while for others they have symbolized exclusion. In contrast, the design consciously aimed to dissolve social boundaries, creating an environment where openness is felt not only within the building but also across its architecture.
Timber forms the primary material in the church’s architecture, shaping both its structure and façade through shingles crafted from whole tree offcuts. The material was chosen for its sustainability and its warmth, bringing a familiar and tactile quality to the building and also reflecting a sustainable and planet-conscious approach. At the same time, timber serves as a medium for a fresh architectural perspective and language. The design aims to incorporate community-oriented spaces and architecture. As Copenhagen’s first new-build church in three decades, Ørestad Church stands as a distinctive landmark, rooted in material honesty and contemporary design.
Designed as more than a place of worship, the church unfolds as a layered civic landscape. Alongside a chapel and a sheltered courtyard, the architecture weaves in flexible cultural spaces designed for shared meals, intimate concerts, yoga sessions, dance, and public talks. Openness sits at the heart of the design, reshaping traditional church architecture to reflect contemporary ideas of spirituality and cultural identity. The project envisions a place where the social life of a community and the rituals of a church coexist seamlessly under a single roof.
Light becomes a subtle yet prominent protagonist within the church, shaping interiors that feel open, calm, and expansive. A series of wooden roof domes gently filter and refract daylight, allowing the chapel’s ceiling height to enhance its sense of serenity. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding open landscape and the wooded character of Hans Tausen’s Parish, nature is woven directly into the architecture. Grasses, flowering perennials, and cherry trees extend the church’s landscape into a living landscape that echoes the spirit of nearby Amager Fælled, blurring the boundary between architecture and nature.
Ørestad Church Project Details
Project name: Ørestad Church
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Architect: Henning Larsen
Year: 2022–2026
Photography: Vivid Vision (Renders) and Henning Larsen
