Vikkii Church, Helsinki

I wouldn't describe myself as particularly religious, however I couldn't help but feel amazed by this church. It's located near a university in Helsinki and is designed for a new urban area with 13,000 residents. Churches that I have seen are normally large stone structures either build hundreds of years ago or featuring characteristics of those that were. However this church is almost entirely made of wood, and the use of long beams of wood throughout the church give the sense of being surrounded or standing in a forest itself which was the idea of the architects.


Churches are meant to be communal areas where people are reminded of a greater power than themselves, and where they look to heaven for answers. This church definately creates the idea of a greater power, a sense of community and worship. Although I dont believe in God i can understand how this building could heighten such a feeling. This is also the reason why I find it so inspirational, they took a risk by making this church so different, so radical in its design, but despite that it still fulfills its purpose entirely. It shows how you can be led by design and not necessarily the purpose of the design and still be successful on both parts.