In the middle of Helsinki's Kampii district is the "Chapel of Silence", which offers all visitors a place for peace and reflection. The chapel is located on a former field where a barracks and later the bus station were built in 1833. Today, the Narinkka Square is located on the area, which is characterized by hotels, commercial buildings and the cultural center "Lasipalatsi - Glass Palace".
Kampin kappeli
Visitors do not necessarily recognise the small chapel as such from the outside, as it was built in the shape of an oval out of wood. Nevertheless, it radiates warmth and comfort and also impresses from the inside with its pleasant atmosphere, which emanates from its simple round wooden walls. The building looks like a vessel or bowl, made of wood, and stands almost free on the square. The foyer and ancillary rooms cover a garage exit.
The façade of the structure consists of 45 millimeter thick planks of alder wood stacked to form a wall. The different shades of wood create a lively-looking surface. The outer shell of the building consists of glued spruce planks, which are placed on a sawtooth-shaped substructure. These slats consist of a different radius. The exterior walls were treated with a special wax, while the wooden skeleton of the structure was made of specially shaped glulam frames, placed on an appropriate substructure. The interior walls of the chapel are made of planks and the furnishings in the form of plain furniture were made of ash.
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The interior of the Kamppi Chapel (Photo: Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock.com)[/caption]
The structure is a part of the "World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 program". Its design created the impression of a wooden body, giving the structure a protective character. The indirect incidence of light and the wood used give the interior a special touch. The floor plan of the chapel is egg-shaped, with the approximately ten-metre-high church interior welcoming visitors with warm light. The chapel is entered through an outbuilding, which has a stone-faced exterior wall. The adjoining foyer has exposed concrete.
By building the Kamppi Chapel, the architects managed to find a distance from the noisy, immediate surroundings. It has been open to all visitors seeking a moment of silence since 2012. The builders also managed to present a massive-looking wooden body in a way that creates a protective character, offering a space for silence in the midst of the bustling city of Helsinki. The building is not intended for church purposes. However, church staff are located here for pastoral discussions. Kampii Chapel of Silence offers a sanctuary to anyone seeking peace and solace, where visitors enter immediately from the hustle and bustle into silence to seek closeness to God.
Important: Photography is prohibited inside the chapel.
