In 2009, a fire destroyed the old 19th century church, a very significant loss for the local people, which is why one of the biggest Norwegian competitions ever was held. The new church was built on four axes, north, south, east and west, echoing the existing cross-shaped church
New church for a small Norwegian community. Rigid geometry and enhancement of light
After the fire in the village church in Våler, Norway, a competition was held for its reconstruction, which was won by EspenSurnevik's studio, which orients the new wooden church on four planks, thus referring to the old cross-shaped church
The main theme of the new church is the resurrection from the ashes of the fire. The theme is also manifested in various design elements, thanks to the help of the artist EspenDietrichson, especially through the study of the entrance of sunlight. Light is the hope of the rebirth that makes space through darkness
The building is clad in solid pine, a natural organic material typical of the local forest landscape, which becomes darker and darker as time goes by. Cyclically, every 50 years, the facade will undergo lightening treatments, a symbol of the resurrection of the church after its fall
The building has rigid geometric shapes. The towers symbolize the main liturgical spaces, the church hall and the baptistery, which have a common concrete base. The tallest tower stands at 24 metres high while the other one at 12 metres high: both of them favour the entrance of natural light into the interior, entirely covered with multilayer birch wood
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