Ylivieska Church, competition proposal
A church that brings the community together.
what
Church and parish center, competition proposal
where
Ylivieska
when
2017
size
1 700 m2
client
Ylivieska church
manufacturer
collaborators
photographs
NEMO architects
The old wooden church of Ylivieska, Finland, built in 1786, suffered a fire in 2016. In response to the accident, the Parish of Ylivieska held an open architectural competition to design a new church building.
Our competition proposal features separate buildings for the church hall and parish facilities, allowing for flexible simultaneous use. A wedge-shaped churchyard, situated between the church and the parish farm, brings together the new buildings, the heroes' cemetery, and the ruins of the old church into a unified whole.
All buildings are constructed of wood and covered with traditional tarred tiles, a customary roofing material for churches. The church entrance has a low threshold, providing direct access from the outside. The building's full grandeur is not immediately visible upon entering, as the entrance leads through a dark, curved space that opens up to the hall.
The parish facilities are simple and easily adaptable for different events. In place of the old bell tower, the belfry now stands as a tall structure, matching the height of the former building and serving as a recognizable landmark for Ylivieska.