Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirke
Norway's only official cathedral, this building made of titanium shelters a 300-seat nave, and hosts the regular church services as well as key music performances.
Information Sheet
New Build Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirke www.nordlyskatedral.no
Location Alta, Norway.
Project Cost 120 million NOK (approx. 15 million € according to the opening year's conversion rate).
Time Frame Design: 2002-2009. Construction: 2010-2013. Opening: February 2013.
Owner Alta kirkelige fellesråd / Alta commune, Norway.
Architect(s) Link Arkitektur,Norway linkarkitektur.com • Schmidt/Hammer/Lassen Architects, Denmark www.shl.dk
Seat Count 300-seat main church auditorium.
Uses Concert hall for organ, choral and chamber music. Rehearsals and recordings. Church services.
Services Acoustic concept and detailed design of main church auditorium with curved surfaces, including variable acoustics.
Team Thomas Wulfrank, Eckhard Kahle, Kahle Acoustics. Svein Folkvord, Tønnes Ognedal, Sinus AS, Stavanger. Sara Vehviläinen, Henrik Møller, Akukon Oy, Helsinki.
Exterior view of the nearly completed building, February 2013. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Exterior view of the nearly completed building, February 2013. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
All walls of the church are concave, which called for special acoustic analysis and adapted treatment. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Interior view of the church. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Interior view of the church auditorium, with its acoustically diffusing corian elements, breaking up sound reflections from the curved geometry. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
Acoustically perforated concrete walls, concealing an acoustic volume behind. Photo © Kahle Acoustics