Højvangen Church: Where light meets matter
in ARCHITETTURA | architecture
© Rasmus Hjortshøj I Højvangen Church.
In the heart of Denmark, on the outskirts of the town of Skanderborg, stands a church that doesn’t look like a church. Højvangen Church, designed by Henning Larsen in collaboration with Espen Surnevik, is a place that challenges convention and embraces the present. It is not merely a sacred building — it is an urban refuge, a spiritual park, a plaza for the soul. A church without front or back, open in every direction like a civic house, it welcomes all who enter. Built with brick, oak, and brass, it blends enduring materials with Danish building tradition — without indulging in nostalgia. Larsen reinterprets ecclesiastical language with a contemporary sensibility: no rigid naves, no prescribed liturgical orientation. The baptismal font, placed at the center, is the only fixed point, from which views unfold toward the forest, the cemetery, and the new bell tower.
© Rasmus Hjortshøj I Højvangen Church.
Belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark, Højvangen was built in dialogue with the local community. It is designed to host not only religious services but also cultural events, informal gatherings, and everyday moments. The project consists of two separate buildings: the church and the parish facilities. The liturgical hall is defined by a sequence of wall segments set at 45-degree angles, arranged along a square perimeter. The spaces between these walls are filled with glass, allowing natural light to filter through throughout the day. These permeable walls, with perforated surfaces, diffuse light dynamically. Shadows and reflections dance across the space, creating an atmosphere that shifts with the passing hours. It is a light that welcomes, not imposes.
© Henning Larsen I Højvangen Church.
On the north side, this configuration doubles to form six niches, whose outer surfaces offer intimate spaces for contemplation. Around the central core, a box-like structure rises about four meters high, forming a circular courtyard. This space encourages both social interaction and quiet reflection, while also serving as a distribution corridor for essential services: sacristy, chapel, cold storage, organist’s room, family room, restrooms, cloakroom, storage, meeting room, and kitchen. The parish block includes multifunctional rooms and additional restrooms. Its flexible areas reflect a new way of experiencing spirituality—as both a collective and personal journey. Between the two buildings lies an open-air theater, with tiered seating and a stage, used for community events. It is a civic space that fosters participation and connection, balancing the sacred with the everyday.
© Rasmus Hjortshøj I Højvangen Church.