The architectural studios Einar Dahle Arkitekter and Hille Melbye Arkitekter won first prize in the 2014 design competition for the Spikkestad New Church and Cultural Center in Norway. Their design is notable for its compact yet spacious layout with multifunctional spatial transformation capabilities. In May 2018, the building named “Teglen” (Norwegian for “brick”) was completed and opened.
Co-owned and used by the National Church and the municipal government, the center includes a church, ceremonial room, café, activity rooms, administrative offices, and municipal services, all integrated through Building Information Modeling (BIM).
(BIM Architecture)
Conceptually, the project resembles a “Teglen” brick volume that rises from a public city square and gently integrates into the adjacent sloping terrain. A key design principle places the inward ritual functions on the second floor, while outward-facing spaces such as the café, activity rooms, and municipal services occupy the first floor, opening to the city square.
The outdoor square flooring, made of red bricks, connects the building seamlessly to the nearby train station platform, creating the effect of a continuous “red carpet” leading visitors inside.
The building’s iconic east facade, known as the “King’s Wall,” rises vertically from the city square, creating a strong visual axis and thematic presence. Architecturally, it echoes both the traditional church spire and the towering chimneys of Spikkestad’s former brick factories, which once stood on adjacent sites.
The upper floor layout embraces spatial flexibility and multifunctionality, reinterpreting the traditional church cross plan. The main entrance and vertical circulation are located at the northern transept, dividing the main volume into three primary spaces:
- The sacred church to the east,
- The ceremonial room to the west, and
- A central transitional space connecting the two.
These areas are separated by floor-to-ceiling foldable oak doors, allowing versatile use of the space.
The facility offers eight entrances and exits across two levels, complemented by spacious staircases linking each floor to a circular auditorium. This design supports simultaneous use of multiple functions, addressing early design challenges and expanding the building’s potential through enhanced flexibility.
The upper volume’s exterior facade combines light, structural integrity, and materiality through maintenance-free bricks affixed to a concrete core. The ceremonial room is defined by two continuous concrete beams, each 3.45 meters high, running through the building. Columns supporting these beams create side galleries within the church and delineate secondary function spaces.
On the first floor, floor-to-ceiling glass walls maximize visual and physical connection to the city square, blurring the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Natural light is the primary source of illumination in the ceremonial room. Soft daylight filters through skylights, highlighting the brick walls of the side porches and the altar walls made of cast-in-place concrete. Adjustable glass panels allow natural light to flow freely between the building’s exterior and interior, enhancing the spatial connection.
Drawings
Master Plan
Analysis Diagram
Analysis Diagram
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
West Elevation
South Elevation
Sectional View
Sectional View
Sectional View
Project Information
Architects: Einar Dahle Arkitekter and Hille Melbye Arkitekter
Location: Spikkestad, Norway
Category: Cultural Center
Lead Architects: Aina Dahle, Kaja Melbye, Joachim Midjo Andersen, Mikkel Haavaldsen
Interior Designers: Einar Dahle Arkitekter, Hille Melbye Arkitekter
Landscape Design: Landskaperiet AS
Building Area: 1,450 square meters
Year Completed: 2018
Photographer: Jiri Havran
Manufacturer: Wienerberger
Contractor: Bermingrud Entreprenør AS
Brick Contractor: Tveiten & Riis AS
Engineering: Dr. Tech Kristoffer Apeland AS, Sivilingeniør Finn Madsø AS, Sweco Norge
Clients: Spikkestad Community, Spikkestad Church Council
Client Representative: Asplan Viak
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