Bagsværd Church

Religious

800
Photo: Erik Christensen, Creative Commons SA 3.0

Modern Danish Church Architecture Reached Its Peak in the 1970s with Jørn Utzon’s Bagsværd Church. An unconventional church made of white concrete creates a sense of light and space.

Bagsværd Church was completed in 1976 by architect Jørn Utzon. It is a Lutheran church in Bagsværd on the northern outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark. With his exceptional ability to create spatial experiences, Utzon represents an organic and minimalist architectural style. Thanks to this design language, Bagsværd Church stands as a cornerstone of contemporary Danish church architecture.

A Church with a Modern Expression

From the outside, Bagsværd Church does not resemble what we traditionally think of as a church. On the contrary, its smooth, white concrete facades and gray aluminum roofs make the building look more like a nondescript industrial structure or factory.
However, stepping inside reveals a sanctuary bathed in natural light, featuring a harmonious blend of soft, rounded forms and sharp edges.

A Ceiling Inspired by Floating Clouds

The white concrete ceiling undulates across the space, evoking drifting clouds – a recurring source of inspiration in Utzon’s work. The fluidity is not limited to the ceiling; even the walls feel permeable. The sanctuary extends partially into the adjoining structures, allowing natural light to flood in. The altar wall consists of a delicate grid of thin, white ceramic tiles.

A New Approach to Church Design

Bagsværd Church seamlessly combines a strict, modern design with organic forms. Nothing like it had been seen in Danish church architecture before, and it introduced entirely new perspectives on how churches could be conceived and built.

The altar carpets and other artistic decorations were created by textile artist and ceramicist Lin Utzon.

Area

Bagsværd

Architect

Jørn Utzon

Built

1970