April 25: Southern Finland tour – Kaleva Church, Tampere

Another animal-shaped building by the Pietiläs, the Kaleva Church (which in plan resembles a fish, i.e. the ichthys symbol, but spikier), was our next stop. It was completed in 1966. It is situated in the middle of a park (Liisanpuisto) ringed by midrise housing blocks.

8913

8913.jpg

On the way: an intriguing traincar-style building.

8916

8916.jpg

The Kaleva Church from a distance.

8920

8920.jpg

There it is.

8924

8924.jpg

It scoops you in.

8925

8925.jpg

Sconces? Not sure.

8927

8927.jpg

The volume of the church is basically just the plan vertically extruded, but it's so tall that that's quite an effective strategy, especially given all the curves of the walls. The slight modulations of color in the reflected light on the wall here are quite nice.

8929

8929.jpg

The organ, plus a cascade of pews.

8933

8933.jpg

I like the composition of varied mullion and pane heights in the windows, as shown by the sunlight coming through them.

8935

8935.jpg

Must have been pretty intense to install those wooden slats.

8946

8946.jpg

Whoooaah.

8955

8955.jpg

Second-hand sunlight is one of the loveliest things.

8957

8957.jpg

A glimpse into the smaller parts of the church.

8963

8963.jpg

A scale model, quite illustrative.

8969

8969.jpg

Some glyphic lights.

8974

8974.jpg

Snowblindingly bright wall.

8975

8975.jpg

More bright wallz.