At a time when churches across Europe are closing and secular spaces are on the rise, the completion of Højvangen Church in Skanderborg, Denmark, marks a rare shift in the opposite direction. Designed by Henning Larsen, the 1,500 m² church is the first new ecclesiastical building in the Skanderborg Parish in more than five centuries. The project positions the church not only as a spiritual setting but also as a civic gathering point that reflects contemporary ideas of community, inclusion, and daily life.
RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE
Located at the edge of Skanderborg, Højvangen Church avoids a traditional front-facing orientation. Instead, the building opens itself to its surroundings from every direction, connected to the older church center by a semi-subterranean corridor. Its architecture is organized around a central baptismal font, the only fixed point in the plan, while the rest of the interior remains flexible and open. From this core, views radiate outward toward the forest, cemetery, and old church tower, supporting the idea of the church as a clearing within the landscape rather than a space of singular direction.
Henning Larsen’s approach integrates material warmth and spatial generosity. Brick, oak, and brass define the tactile experience of the interior, while outside, a sculpted pavilion-like form rises gently from the site. The surrounding park and courtyard extend the building’s purpose beyond worship, enabling it to function as a space for cultural events, daily gatherings, and quiet reflection. A series of niches carved into the rear colonnade allow for private moments of retreat, encouraging informal encounters or peaceful solitude.
Light plays a foundational role in the design, both technically and atmospherically. “It’s more than a physical element, it brings a calm, almost spiritual quality to the space,” says Eva Ravnborg, Director at Henning Larsen. This philosophy is embedded in the church’s permeable walls, which shift between transparency and solidity, filtering daylight throughout the day and creating subtle shifts in mood and tone.
“Our ambition was to design a space that extends an invitation from every direction,” adds Greta Tiedje, Global Design Director. “A place where people of all generations and beliefs can gather and find meaning through shared experience. That’s where real life happens.” In doing so, Højvangen Church affirms its presence not just as a sacred structure, but as a public, living space.
