THE GREEN CATHEDRAL
The design of the Green Cathedral seeks to inspire a deeper connection to the environment, promote a harmonious and sacred relationship between humanity and nature as well as the church's role in establishing a positive pathway towards the future.
The Green Cathedral embodies principles of justice, environment, and sustainability. Designed as a modern and environmentally friendly space, it will serve as a sacred venue for worship, life events, and community gatherings. Nestled in the forested landscape of Trondheim, Norway, the church's design integrates seamlessly with nature, offering spaces for reflection, contemplation, and ecological engagement. Through the use of natural materials and sustainable practices, the Green Cathedral seeks to inspire a deeper connection to the environment and promote a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.
Location: Charlottelund, Norway
Client: Charlottelund Kirke
Program: Cathedral
Size: 1,450 m²
Year: 2023
Team: KOSY collective / Studio Sang
Charlottenlund Church is envisioned as a functional and aesthetically pleasing space with a forward-thinking green profile: The Green Cathedral at Charlottenlund. This concept embodies justice, environment, and sustainability, guided by respect for creation.
The new church has been designed to be an environmentally friendly building, offering a dignified and modern sacred space for worship, life milestones, and gatherings. It will accommodate diverse activities of the congregation, serving as an open meeting place for everyone, both in everyday life and on special occasions. Designed with high artistic quality, it aims to enrich the local environment and provide a place for reflection, contemplation, and inspiration connected to nature.
Throughout history, the church has championed the protection of the planet and creation. With the Green Cathedral, we aim to inspire this ethos, managing our role as stewards of the earth for future generations.
In response to increasing environmental challenges, the church will not only facilitate human connections but also foster experiences that reconnect us with nature. It will contribute to sustainable growth, development, and operation, considering social conditions, economy, and climate and environment, as outlined by the UN.
Located in a forested area in Trondheim, Norway, the design integrates closely with nature through gardens, plazas, and paths, providing spaces for community engagement, ecological activities, and food growing. The cathedral form reflects mountain peaks and is designed at a human scale, fostering a closer connection to nature.
Attention to natural materials, wood construction, and sustainable practices, such as a green insulating roof, water harvesting, local flora integration, energy-saving systems, and natural ventilation, are key features. The design also considers disassembly at the end of its life.
The Green Cathedral is a modern institution inspired by the past, designed to meet the future's needs. It aims to be functional, visually impressive, and inspiring, fostering joy, community, and ecological awareness. The proposal creates an oasis where people can gather, find comfort, and draw inspiration in harmony with nature.
Promote a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.
Locally inspired vernacular design and locally sourced materials.
Designed for the future with nature in mind.
Flexible and multifunctional to cater to society outside of the churchs community.
The Green Cathedral has been designed to be twofold, an interior cathedral with it's program and a garden with spaces to reflect, grow and experience. The two worlds are linked by the cathedral axis.
At each end of the axis, the built and the natural realms radially extends into it's spaces.
The built form is defined by the radial configuration.
The scale is broken into human scale volumes with gable roof echoing traditional vernacular architecture.
The Green Cathedral has been designed as a wood construction, lowering it's upfront embodied carbon impact. The wood facade has been designed to perform with a thick insulation and narrow vertical glazing with triple laminated glass.
The green roof not only echoes traditional local architecture of Norway, but is also a proven method to insulate and lower operational carbon.
Siteplan
View of garden experience
Ground level plan
Level 1 plan
CHURCH SPACE AND ASSOCIATED ROOMS
1. Nave
2. Place for smaller ceremonies
3. Choir
4. A place for lighting candles
5. Baptism Sacristy
6. Sacristy
7. The sacristan's room
8. Organ
9. Gallery
10. Music table
PARISH CENTER
11.Church Square (indoors)
12. Cloakroom
13. Accessible WC (HCWC)
14. WC
15. Chair storage
16. Café kitchen
17. Parish Hall
18. Church lounge
19. Kitchen
20. Cooling room
21. Tableware storage
22. Chair storage
23. Youth activity room
24. Children's activity room
25. Practice room
ADMINISTRATION
26. Administration/Office
27. Meeting room
28. Cloakroom and toilets
TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS
29. Cleaning center
30. Technical rooms
31. Operations room
32. Outdoor furniture storage
View of entrance lobby looking towards main nave and multifuntional space
The main cathedral space has been designed to be multifunctional and can be configured in multiple different ways dependent on occasion.
Exploded axonometric of main nave of Cathedral
View of cathedral nave axis
Longitudinal section through Cathedral nave axis and sustainability measures
View of facade
