Skanderborg, Denmark
2021 - 2024
Højvangen Church
Located on the outskirts of Skanderborg, Højvangen Church reimagines the traditional church as an open, inclusive public space. Built in brick, oak, and brass, the design brings together lasting materials, Danish building tradition, and a modern approach to spirituality – creating a dynamic gathering place for a growing residential community.
For the first time in over 500 years, a new church has been built in Skanderborg Parish. Set within a growing neighborhood on the outskirts of Skanderborg, the church is designed as an inclusive public space – anchored in tradition, yet open to the needs of a changing community.
The church was designed in dialogue with the community, local landscape, and a respect for Danish building tradition. Spaces typically used for worship have been reimagined as adaptable areas for cultural events, informal meetings, and everyday use. The flexible layout and open structure support a broad range of activities – reflecting a shift in how churches can be used today.
"With the new church in Højvangen, we have been true to the theological tradition, while also reinterpreting the church as a place that accommodates both everyday life and celebrations, joy and mourning, across generations."
Eva Ravnborg
Director, Denmark
One with its surroundings
Outside the church, a landscaped park and courtyard create space for community events and activities for Højvangen’s residents. Scattered throughout are more intimate areas designed for individual reflection and connection that carry a sense of spirituality beyond the church walls.
The exterior building façade is activated on all sides, featuring covered seating niches set into the colonnaded ‘backside’ façade. Here, visitors and worshippers can take a secluded moment for quiet reflection, enjoy a conversation, or connect with the surrounding nature.
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The role of light
Light, as a material and a metaphor, is often prioritized as a defining element in traditional churches. We've embraced this idea to craft a space that feels reflective. An undulating building façade generates unique natural lighting conditions, inviting shifting patterns of daylight that transforms throughout the day.
Inside, the use of permeable walls – constructed from surfaces with patterned openings – helps diffuse and reflect natural light throughout the interior. Not only does this soften direct sunlight and minimizes glare, but it creates a visually dynamic environment where light, shadow, form and transparency work together to animate the interior.
“Light was a central design driver for us. It’s more than a physical element — it brings a calm, almost spiritual quality to the space, lifting the experience of the church room beyond the everyday."
Eva Ravnborg
Director, Denmark
For everyone, every day
For the church to be truly open, its structure must reflect a similar sense of inclusivity. The 1,500m² (16,146ft²) building offers undefined, adaptable spaces that accommodate religious ceremonies, community gatherings, and creative uses that extend beyond the church’s traditional function.
With no defined front or back, the nontraditional religious space has only one fixed element, a baptismal font located at its center. This natural center point offers distinctive views in all directions, framing scenes of the surrounding forest, church tower, cemetery, and existing church center. Atypical for a church layout, this adaptable clearing can accommodate a variety of events. Surrounding angled walls alternating between solid and void, create pockets of privacy, balancing communal and individual experiences.
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Ekko Chair
We have designed every element of the church’s interior, including the Ekko Chair. Developed specifically for contemporary communal spaces, the chair is both stackable and certified to the highest EU standard (L2) for extreme use – combining strength and durability with a calm, elegant presence. It is a versatile solution that meets the demands of high-traffic environments without sacrificing comfort or design integrity.
Crafted entirely in Denmark from certified hardwood and 100% linen, the Ekko Chair reflects a commitment to responsible materials and meticulous craftsmanship. Its construction features traditional tenon-and-mortise joinery, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. A collaboration between Henning Larsen and Brdr. Krüger, the chair marks Henning Larsen’s return to furniture design after more than six decades.
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