Project Details:
Location: Korso, Finland
Type: Religious
Area: 3691m²
Architects: AFKS Architects Ltd
Team: Jaakko Keppo, Jari Frondelius, Juha Salmenperä, Gunilla Björkqvist, Tommi Kantanen, Tommi Mauno
Photographs: Jussi Tiainen
Korso Church and office building (1962) were designed by Olli Kuusi. The Vantaa Congregation organised an architectural competition in 1998 for the renewal of the church, a new urn cemetery and new office spaces for the Parish hall. The building was realised on the basis of the winning competition entry.
The original exterior appearance of the church has been preserved. In the interior, the main altar has been moved to the wall nearest the new urn cemetery. Flexibility has been a central point in the design of the furniture.
The extension is a meandering two-storey building mass to which smaller parts are joined in the “Plug-in” style. The new building has an unadorned and simple character in contrast to the more solemn appearance of the church. The materials are coarse-grained common ones. The aim has been a respectful co-existence of old and new. A light-filled connecting hall links the new extension to the church.
The hall-like space formed by the new parish hall, chapel and multipurpose hall overlooks the church yard. There is also access from the hall to the offices and children’s club facilities. The youth and deacon facilities are situated in a separate wing. The new sacristy demarcates the urn cemetery and the main entrance. The exterior walls of the extensions are mainly load-bearing concrete block walls, and the main facade material is concrete block with a render-wash finish.
