Bagsværd Church

Architect: Jørn Utzon

Client: Parish of Bagsværd Sogn

Location: Bagsværd, Denmark

About the Project

Bagsværd church is a Lutheran church in Bagværd, near Copenhagen in Denmark. Jørn Utzon designed it in 1968, and the building was completed in 1976. The building covers an area of 1700 square metres, and it reaches up to 165 metres in height. The plan of the church is exact, and geometric, and consists of three sections and a courtyard between two parallel corridors. (16) ⁠

This narrow building with an austere facade looks very different to both its surroundings and interior. The suburban context makes the white concrete panels and aluminium roof quite remarkable. The geometric, angled exterior contrasts greatly with the curvilinear, swooping interior roof.

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“The inspiration that I derived from the drifting of clouds above the sea and the shore (forming) a wondrous space in which the light fell through the ceiling - the clouds - down on to the floor represented by the shore and the sea.” - Jørn Utzon (19)

About the Architect

Jørn Utzon was born in Copenhagen in Denmark in 1918. He grew up in the town of Aalborg, and studied architecture at the Copenhagen Royal Academy of Arts. He graduated in 1942 (when he was 24) with a diploma, and thereafter he worked in Sweden until the end of the second world war. (20)⁠

Utzon’s most famous work is undoubtedly the Sydney Opera house in Sydney in Australia. This iconic landmark took over a decade to build, with Utzon directing the construction, beginning in 1959 and only being completed in 1973. This piece of architecture remains one of the most renown and magnificent buildings in the world. In 2007, the Sydney Opera House was formally recognised as outstanding in the UNESCO World Heritage List, as it was declared a World Heritage Site (20)⁠. Another famous work of the architect is the Kuwait National Assembly building. This important legislative building was designed in 1972 and completed in 1982, a much swifter process than the opera house! This complicated concrete structure was actually finished by Utzon’s son Jan.

Utzon received numerous awards and honours throughout his career. Some of which are; the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1978, the Daylight Award in 1980, and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2000. However, the most impressive award he won was the Pritzker Prize in 2003, which is the highest honour an architect can receive. (21)

About the location

There had been no church in Bagsværd since 1538 for almost four centuriues. The church that stood there before had been torn down, and the stones it was made of were used to renovate the manor of the bishop of Copenhagen at the time. The church-goers of Bagsværd had to go to the next parish’s church, Gladsaxe church for about 400 years. A temporary church was consecrated in 1923, until the current church, Bagsværd church was built in 1976. (22)

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The general context of Bagsværd church is a wide, suburban community with miles of housing and several small school. The geographical location shows this building to be even further north than the previous project. This and the orientation of the building become very important when discussing daylight design.

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Critique

Bagsværd church is an example of good daylight design, but in a very different and specific way to the other exemplars.

The specific demands of this building are what really characterises the daylight design for this building. This is a religious building, for short-term congregation. Light takes on a new function, one greater than simply illuminating the interior. It becomes symbolic and heavenly, and generates a new texture and atmosphere within the church. The ecclesiastic light is produced by high, lateral windows that span almost the full length of the church. Soft, white curves of cast in-situ concrete guide the light into the main altar space, creating a visual masterpiece. This clearly differentiates this space from the surrounding, functional suburban daylight design, to become something more remarkable. The corridors and hallways that lead to the main body are illuminated by filtered light from glass ceilings. (19)

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The context and location were clearly sufficiently considered in the daylight design of Bagsværd church. As just explained, the awesome roof light defines a difference between this space and the surrounding neighbourhood. It creates a hierarchy that any visitor or church-goer could detect. The roof light is also high enough not to be obscured by any nearby trees. Bagsværd in Denmark is obviously in the northern hemisphere, but it not a typical south-facing building. Due to the very specific type of light required, the tall, lateral windows actually face east. Rather than glare and direct sunlight shining into the building, a far more diffuse and even light is allowed in, illuminating every part of the room below.

The psychological aspect of the daylight design in Bagsværd church is, again, very different to the other two projects. Much less time is spent in a church than in a home or workplace, therefore much less emphasis is placed on the circadian rhythm. Instead, the light in Bagsværd church becomes a tool for visitors to experience the hierarchy of this built space and the outside. A threshold is created at the doors of the church hall. Due to the distinctive and unusual lighting conditions, a visitor would become subconsciously aware that they are in a more sacred space.

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Bibliography

13. Google Earth [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 22]. Available from: https://earth.google.com/web/search/zollverein+school+of+management+and+design/@51.48784519,7.04748132,48.07590419a,587.95112297d,35y,0.00000001h,59.99968708t,359.99999915r/data=CigiJgokCdD68m6SvklAETZptERKvklAGdPtAWfFMBxAIboW09srKRxA

16. PD: 2D Sun-Path [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 24]. Available from: https://drajmarsh.bitbucket.io/sunpath2d.html

17. Bagsvaerd Church / Jørn Utzon | ArchEyes [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 23]. Available from: https://archeyes.com/bagsvaerd-church-jorn-utzon/

18. Asgaard Andersen M. Reivisiting Utzon’s Bagsvaerd Church. 2005.

19. Daylight: Bagsværd Church [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 23]. Available from: https://jesydesigns.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/daylight-bagsvaerd-church/

20. The Architect - Jørn Utzon - Sydney Opera House [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 23]. Available from: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/our-story/the-architect-jorn-utzon.html

21. Jørn Utzon [Internet]. Famous Architects; [cited 2020 Oct 23]. Available from: http://famedarchitect.com/jorn-utzon/

22.  History  [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.bagsvaerdkirke.dk/historie/

23. AD Classics: Bagsværd Church / Jørn Utzon | ArchDaily [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 20]. Available from: https://www.archdaily.com/160390/ad-classics-bagsvaerd-church-jorn-utzon