The Other Helsinki Church

Helsinki’s Temppeliauko Church, (The Rock Church)

Not so easily spotted as the Lutheran Cathedral of Helsinki (https://davidoakesimages.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/simply-sophisticated/) is the equally dramatic  and important  but very different Rock Church.  Excavated out of the solid bedrock upon which Helsinki is built, Temppeliauko Church must be unique in everyway.

It is also a ‘new’ church…opened in 1969 after a long drawn our Architectural Competition announced in 1932, delayed by WW2 and dogged by local controversy, work eventually commenced on the work of digging out the new church in 1961.

A copper dome is the dramatic roof to the church and daylight is filtered into the building by the skilful location of sloping glass windows. Entrance is by way of a narrow street level door, a deceptively low key entrance which suddenly opens out into this enormous rock cavern, stone alter and font. Services must be something extra special but when we were there a morning Piano Concert was underway…the acoustics so good that even the comings and goings of many tourists did little to disturb the pianos sound.

Whilst the interior architectural creativity is to admired the exterior is visually a disappointment….obviously little of the structure  can be seen with just the top of the copper dome protruding above a rocky surround.

I am told Temppeliauko now attracts more visitors than the Cathedral…..a shame as both are superb but very different architectural landmarks and achievements.

12th January

(C) David Oakes 2016