Bagsvaerd Church Copenhagen architect design, Kirke photos, Danish 20th Century building images

Bagsvaerd Kirke, København

Famous Religious Architecture in Copenhagen, Denmark design by architect Jørn Utzon

post updated 30 October 2024

Date built: 1976

Design: Jørn Utzon architect

New photos of this Jorn Utzon church in a northern suburb of Copenhagen – taken on a re-visit by e-architect directors, Sunday 15th November:

photos © Adrian Welch

16 Nov 2015

Bagsvaerd Kirke

We first visited this delightful 20th Century Danish church building in 2002. On this occasion by chance we came across architecture students from the University of East London sketching the interior, a pleasant connection as Isabelle Lomholt studied architecture at UEL (after her architecture degree at North London).

photos © Adrian Welch

The exterior is quite hard and some of the materials (steep corrugated roof) and proportions (the stepping-down flanks atop the north and south facades either side of the ‘nave’) don’t sit quite right, but the interior is a tour-de-force, concealed lighting and ‘cloud’ ceiling being the highlights.

photo © Adrian Welch

There is a calm palette, mostly white-painted elements between concrete structure left raw and grey. Pale wood brings some warmth plus a delicate introduction of greens and some purples in fabric.

An ivy-floored outdoor space, contemplative, restful, austere:

More photos of the building interior and exterior:

Bagsvaerd Church

Jorn Utzon’s remarkable church in a northern suburb of Copenhagen – images:

Danish Architecture: Bagsværd Kirke images © Adrian Welch 2002

Bagsvaerd Church / Bagsværd Kirke
1974-76
Jørn Utzon, Architect

Address: Taxvej 14, Bagsværd
Location: north Copenhagen, bus or taxi from city centre

Bagsvaerd Church Copenhagen
Utzon’s next major design – after returning to Denmark after Sydney – was the Bagsvaerd Church, Copenhagen. The plain and rectilinear exterior contrasts with the sensuously curving soffits within – the interior creates a welcome surprise. Professor Richard Weston explained in one of his lectures on Utzon that the Client wanted a cost saving so the whole building was shrunk in proportion: in fact the scale of some elements does seem rather reduced, especially the exposed gables at the top seen from the east. This Lutheran church is located in low-density suburbs almost on the north edge of Copenhagen.

Danish Architecture: Bagsværd Kirke images © Adrian Welch

Jorn Utzon planned the interior vaults after being inspired by banks of clouds. His sketches evolved from nature images to hanging overhead vaults. Bagsvaerd echoes the expressionism and humanism of architect Alvar Aalto.

Danish Architecture: Bagsværd Kirke images © Adrian Welch

Bagsvaerd Church – Opening Times: every day 9am – 4pm

Bagsvaerd Church Architect – Jorn Utzon

Jorn Utzon: Pritzker Architecture Prize
Danish architect Jorn Utzon designer of the Sydney Opera House, Australia, received the 2003 Laureate of the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, the Nobel Prize of the architecture world.

The Pritzker Prize ceremony took place at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid. Jorn Utzon is the first Dane to become a Pritzker Laureate.

Danish Architecture: Bagsværd Kirke images © Adrian Welch

DANMARK: København – Dansk Arkitektur

Jorn Utzon

Location:Copenhagen

Architecture in Copenhagen

Copenhagen Architecture Designs – chronological list

Danish Architecture

Copenhagen Walking Tours

Jorn Utzon: Key Buildings
Courtyard-Style Housing, Denmark 1956-58
Sydney Opera House, Australia 1957-73
Bagsvaerd Kirke, Copenhagen 1974-76
Fredensborg Houses, Denmark 1962
Kuwait National Assembly 1982
Two Houses, Majorca

Kim Utzon building

Copenhagen Church

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image Courtesy of Steven Holl Architects