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Kaleva Church
Kalevan kirkko
Main facade of Kaleva Church in Tampere.
Location	Tampere
Country	Finland
Denomination	Lutheran
Architecture
Style	modernism

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Kaleva Church (Finnish: Kalevan kirkko; Swedish: Kalevakyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland church building in the Liisankallio district of Tampere, Finland. It was designed by Reima and Raili Pietilä and built in 1964–66. The church accommodates approximately 1,120 people. It is considered an example of modern architectural style and is one of the main sights of Tampere.

History

Kaleva parish was established in 1953, but without its own church. In 1959, the board of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Tampere announced a competition to design a church building for the parish. The entry selected was by architect Reima Pietilä, whose architectural partner (and, from 1963, wife) Raili Paatelainen later became involved in the project.

The site chosen for the church was a small hill at the head of the convergence of two of Tampere's major streets: Teiskontie and Sammonkatu.

Architecture

The building was constructed using slip forming. It is made from 17 narrow 35 m (115 ft)-high hollow concrete u-shapes, with full height windows between them. Like the windows, there are also 18 entrances to the building. These concrete u’s are all slightly different. Because at the time many grain elevators in Finland were built with slip forming, the church got the nicknames “Silo of the Souls” and “Viljanen’s Silo” (referring to the Vicar Paavo Viljanen). The 35 m (115 ft)-high walls were cast in 12 days.

The surface area of the church is 3,600 m (39,000 sq ft), and its volume is 47,000 m (1,700,000 cu ft). The floor plan of the church resembles a fish, an ancient symbol of Christianity. The main hall is 30 m (98 ft) high and offers seating for 1120 people.

The roof of the church is flat, and surmounted by a bell tower in the shape of a stylised cross, housing three bells manufactured in West Germany. In addition to the main hall, the church features a chapel, sacristy and auxiliary facilities. All furnishings in the church are made of lacquered Finnish pine.

Recognition

The plans for the church had already received international attention before building started. The church is considered to be among the key works of post-war Finnish modernism and was protected by the Church Act in 2006. Kaleva Church is featured on the Docomomo Finland list of modern Finnish architectural masterpieces.

References

1. ^ Uusi Verso – Kaleva Church
2. "Kaleva Church". Tampere Tourist Information. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
3. "Churches in Tampere". Tampereen ev.lut. seurakunnat. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
4. "Kaleva Church, Tampere, Finland". Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture Digital Library. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
5. ^ FinnishAchitecture.fi – Kaleva Church
6. Declad – Kaleva Church
7. DOCOMOMO – Kaleva Church

External links

• Media related to Kaleva church at Wikimedia Commons
• Reima and Raili Pietilä's architecture in Tampere

61°29′57″N 023°47′38″E / 61.49917°N 23.79389°E / 61.49917; 23.79389

v t e Tampere Cityscape
Buildings	City Hall Tampere Hall Market Hall Workers' Hall City Central Office Building Bus Station Central Station Central Library Central Hospital Central Police Station Central Fire Station Näsilinna Palace Commerce House
Places of worship	Tampere Cathedral Old Church Church of the Alexander Nevsky and the Saint Nicholas Baptist Church Alexander Church Kaleva Church Finlayson Church Holy Cross Church
Universities and colleges	Tampere University University of Tampere University of Applied Sciences Police University College Vocational College Tredu
Parks & gardens	Hämeenpuisto Eteläpuisto Koskipuisto Wilhelm von Nottbeck Park Pyynikki Hatanpää Arboretum Posteljooninpuisto
City squares	Central Square Tammelantori Sori Square Laukontori Väinö Linna Square
Tourist attractions	Särkänniemi Hatanpää Manor Hirvitalo Näsinneula Pyynikki observation tower
Hotels	Hotel Torni Hotel Tammer Hotel Ilves
Museums	Moomin Museum Vapriikki Museum Centre Finnish Ice Hockey Museum Finnish Museum of Games Natural History Museum Rupriikki Media Museum Milavida Museum Lenin Museum Spy Museum
Sport venues	Kauppi Stadium Nokia Arena Ratina Stadium Ice Stadium Tammelan Stadion
Performing arts	Theatres Tampere Theatre Comedy Theatre Workers' Theatre Pyynikki Summer Theatre Music venues Tampere Opera
Other venues	Tammerkoski Pispala Rajaportin sauna Hämeensilta Kalevankangas Cemetery Tampella Exhibition and Sports Centre Viikinsaari

• Lutheran churches in Finland
• Buildings and structures in Tampere
• Reima and Raili Pietilä buildings
• 20th-century churches in Finland