Sola, Norway

Located at the end of the main street, Jaja Arhitects’ Sola Church is the first contemporary designed church in the town center and has a significant presence in the urban space.

The nave is placed as a direct extension of the main street creating a plaza for both the church and town.

This provides the town with an active termination of the main street and the church with an urban space that opens up to its surroundings.

The church’s nave is placed as a direct extension of the main street axis.

Opposite the town hall, the two buildings form a new plaza with a continuous green park as a backdrop.

The church, along with the new urban and recreational space, redefines the identity of Sola.

The nave is designed as a symmetrical space providing a calm and balanced experience.

The north wall of the main nave is designed with a gradual filtration of the northern light providing depth and a clear direction in the nave.

The diffused northern lights throughout the height of the room provide a sacred and poetic atmosphere.

Behind the altar, a huge art piece by local artist Marie Buskov is installed, giving the church its identity and a spiritual atmosphere. 

Louvered windows with stained glass cover the gabled roof allowing ambient light to filter through and fill the sacred space.

During the day, the light creates a playful color palette on the aisle and the walls in the nave.

This integrated decoration is made in collaboration with artist Marie Buskov too.

The church consists of a horizontal base made of concrete, which carries two wood-clad building bodies.

The largest volume – the nave – forms a clear face and front motif towards the center of Sola.

The south aisle of the nave is designed as a slightly transparent gable motif, which provides depth and play of light during the day.

In the evening, illuminated from within, the church will appear as a lighthouse, creating a landmark in the extension of “Solakrossen” and “Rådhusvejen.”

Project: Sola Church
Architects: AJA Architects
Design Team: Jakob Christensen, Jan Tanaka, Kathrin Gimmel, Stephen Dietz-Hodgson, Sam De Boever, Kaspar Dettinger, Sara Patriksson, and Pawel Furmanowski
Client: Sola Municipality
Photographers: Sindre Ellingsen and Coast Studio