Strange angles and red bricks abound. What does this say about Tagensbo Kirke?
Tagensbo Kirke stands on Landsdommervej in Copenhagen’s northwest quarter. It is a unique and modern church. Let’s uncover its story.
Tagensbo Kirke’s history began in 1946. It was created from parts of Bispebjerg and Kapernaums parishes. The church building was completed in 1969. Tagensbo is a parish of the Danish People’s Church.
Hans Christian Hansen designed Tagensbo Kirke. He was a noted architect. The church is one of 16 that the Diocese of Copenhagen considered closing.
Now look closer at the architecture. Tagensbo Kirke is not traditional. Hansen created a charming example of late modernist church architecture.
Construction finished in 1970. The building is a simple length of blank wall. You can see red brick and concrete pillars. It also features a red tile roof. An open bell tower sits over the western part.
Danish churches usually face east to west. The choir is typically at the east end. Tagensbo Kirke follows this orientation. However the choir faces north along the long wall. The church fits into the street line. Its red bricks stand out from the yellow of nearby buildings.
Light concrete pillars support the modernist church. Horizontal beams connect them. This creates a pattern mirrored around the building’s vertical center. Small square windows sit under the beams.
The open concrete tower is light. It is inspired by Arne Jacobsen’s tower in Aarhus City Hall. The main entrance is directly under the tower.
Inside, the church feels light and unique. The facade’s concrete pillars are visible. Light brickwork fills the spaces between. Red clinker tiles cover the floor. They create a rhythm along the room’s length.
Along the end walls and the south long wall are galleries. These elevated spaces are for churchgoers singers or an organ. The organ is built into the galleries over the entrance.
The furnishings are original to Tagensbo Kirke. There are loose chairs and simple hanging lamps.
The altar table and pulpit are concrete. Their fronts have patterns. They stand in the middle of the room against the north long wall. In front of them is the baptismal font. It has a cross-shaped design and a brass dish.
A large cross rests on the globe as an altarpiece. It hangs on the choir wall.
Tagensbo Kirke is more than bricks and mortar. It is a testament to modern design. It embodies the spirit of its community. Its unique architecture invites reflection.