Kirklandet Church

Kirklandet Church was completed in 1964, and is a masterpiece designed in concrete by Odd Østbye. The church was modern for its time, and still is today with its timeless architectural design.

We were commissioned by Kristiansund municipality to design a universal design in the church room, as it was difficult for people with reduced mobility to get up to the altar and the congregation hall. The task was therefore to look at the possibilities of designing two ramps in these two places, which could work with the church's materials and interior. It was important that the ramps worked for people with reduced mobility and at the same time did not change the architecture of the church room.

In order to create a holistic solution, we have actively used the old drawings. We have designed the ramps with a gentle rise, with regard to the architecture of the church room. The structural lines in the building and materiality have also been important part for the solutions of the project.

Reuse of existing materials

All the steps are made of slate, and the church room, the altar floor and the congregation hall are made of terrazzo. The ramps and the new stairs are part of the "stair elements", and it was therefore proposed to use slate. This creates opportunities for the reuse of already existing materials. Handrails and railings are made of copper, similar to other railings in the church.

Ramp up to the parish hall

The congregation hall has several uses and has folding doors that create a flexible space. It can be used as a separate unit with closed doors, with open doors that create a visual connection to the church space, or be left open when more seating is needed during services and events. It was therefore important to create a ramp that did not become a barrier to the church room, but a ramp and stairs that preserved the visual contact with the church room.

Facilitated for everyone

The congregation hall is clearly defined vertically and we wanted to preserve this line. The stairs were moved outwards in the room to provide enough turning space for wheelchair users in front of the door, with the same geometry as the existing stairs where the geometry of the width lines were used. This also made it easier to push the folding doors, which today fold out over the stairs. It provides an extra room in front of the door to the congregation hall, which gives a better entrance situation into the congregation hall. The placement of the ramp means that it is possible to keep several rows of benches, and at the same time also make room for a disabled space.

Ramp up to the altar

The stairs up to the altar are central in the church room. Establishing a ramp up to the altar must therefore provide good access to the altar, but not be a visual barrier. The ramp was therefore laid along the wall, and follows the radius lines from the center point. The base is also used here, and the establishment of a base that separates the stairs from the ramp.