Known as Norway鈥檚 first 鈥渕odern鈥� church, the architecture of Kristiansund鈥檚 Kirkelandet church splits opinion. Come take a closer look.
Loved by many locals and hated by some, Kirkelandet kirke often leaves tourists travelling through Kristiansund bemused. Were it not for the cross standing outside the church, most people would assume this was an office building.
Yet its controversial architecture has made Kirkelandet kirke one of Norway鈥檚 best-known churches. Not necessary best-loved, of course! Yet if you ask around in Kristiansund, many locals seem to adore it.
I have to say, I am not a fan. At all. There鈥檚 a lot of Norwegian architecture old and new that I love. This grubby concrete monstrosity is not one of them. That was my opinion when I first visited the town in 2016 and it鈥檚 still my opinion when I went back in 2022.
However! There is one saving grace. This time, I stepped inside. The interior of Kirkelandet kirke possibly saves it from being Norway鈥檚 ugliest church. Come take a look.
Interior of the church
From the outside, the rear of the church actually looks even worse than the front.
But there鈥檚 something that鈥檚 difficult to see from the outside. The back wall is actually filled with small, stained-glass windows that provide a fantastic lighting effect once you鈥檙e inside.
The 30-metre-high wall of glass panes draws attention. According to the architect, 鈥淭he dark colours symbolise the life of bondage and selfishness while the lighter colours show us how God鈥檚 love changes our lives and gives man hope in the world.鈥�
I鈥檓 not sure about that, exactly, but it certainly looks nice. The interior lights in the angled architecture at the front of the church also provide a striking welcome.
The story of the church
In 1878, a large wooden church that could seat 1,200 people was built in Kristiansund. Along with much of the town, it burned to the ground during German bombing during the early stages of World War II.
While there are other churches around the town, its replacement was built in 1964 at a cost of NOK 3 million. Designed by Odd 脴stby, Kirkelandet kirke was the first truly modern church in Norway, attracting much attention.
On the design, 脴stby said: 鈥淚t was important that the entire building had strength within itself, focused around the chancel. The forces that lay within the column construction in the choir should give one the sense of forces so great that they awe man.鈥�
He continued: 鈥淚 imagined that the chancel and everything in that construction should be something that influences the congregation. And that the influence is so clear and so powerful that the individual churchgoer has it in their mind, so much so that their actions are led by it.鈥�
The church was M酶re og Romsdal鈥檚 entry in Norway鈥檚 鈥橞uilding of the Century鈥� competition. It didn鈥檛 win.
What do you think of Kirkelandet church? Is there beauty in the concrete? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Ugh as in ugly