Kaleva Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kaleva Church |
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Kalevan kirkko
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Main facade of Kaleva Church in Tampere.
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| Location | Tampere |
| Country | Finland |
| Denomination | Lutheran |
| Architecture | |
| Style | modernism |
Kaleva Church (Finnish: Kalevan kirkko; Swedish: Kalevakyrkan) is a Lutheran church building. It is located in the Liisankallio area of Tampere, Finland. The church was designed by famous architects Reima and Raili Pietilä. It was built between 1964 and 1966. This large church can hold about 1,120 people. Kaleva Church is a great example of modern style. It is also one of the main places to see in Tampere.
Contents
History of Kaleva Church
How the Church Was Planned
The Kaleva church community was started in 1953. However, it did not have its own church building at first. In 1959, a competition was held to design a new church. Many architects submitted their ideas.
The winning design came from architect Reima Pietilä. His architectural partner, Raili Paatelainen, later joined the project. She became his wife in 1963. They worked together to bring the church to life.
Choosing the Church Location
The church was built on a small hill. This spot is where two main streets in Tampere meet. These streets are Teiskontie and Sammonkatu. This location makes the church easy to see.
Architecture of Kaleva Church
Unique Building Style
The Kaleva Church was built using a special method called slip forming. This means the concrete walls were poured in layers as the building slowly rose. The church is made from 17 tall, hollow concrete U-shapes. Each of these U-shapes is about 35 meters (115 feet) high.
Between these concrete sections are tall windows that go from the floor to the roof. There are also 18 entrances to the building, just like the windows. Each concrete U-shape is a little different from the others.
Nicknames and Design Details
At the time, many grain elevators in Finland were built using the slip forming method. Because of this, Kaleva Church got some interesting nicknames. People called it the "Silo of the Souls" or "Viljanen’s Silo." This last nickname referred to the Vicar Paavo Viljanen. The 35-meter-high walls were built very quickly, in just 12 days.
The church building covers a large area of 3,600 square meters (38,750 square feet). Its total volume is 47,000 cubic meters (1,660,000 cubic feet). The floor plan of the church looks like a fish. The fish is an old symbol used by Christians. The main hall inside the church is 30 meters (98 feet) high. It has seats for 1,120 people.
Church Features
The roof of the church is flat. On top of the roof, there is a bell tower. This tower looks like a stylish cross. It holds three bells that were made in West Germany. Besides the main hall, the church also has a chapel, a sacristy (a room where priests prepare), and other helpful rooms. All the furniture inside the church is made from lacquered Finnish pine wood.
Recognition of Kaleva Church
International Attention
Even before the church was built, its plans were getting attention from around the world. People recognized its unique and modern design.
A Protected Modern Masterpiece
Kaleva Church is considered one of the most important examples of Finnish modernism built after World War II. Because of its importance, the church was protected by the Church Act in 2006. This law helps keep the building safe for the future. The church is also on the Docomomo Finland list. This list includes modern Finnish architectural masterpieces.
