Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki, designed by architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and consecrated in 1969, is a majestic, otherworldly space.
Approaching the church is confusing. It’s hard to find, even when you’re on a nearby street. This is not the case with other European churches, they normally tower overhead. But Temppeliaukio is built into a rock outcrop in the middle of a standard, mostly residential Helsinki neighborhood. A relatively uninteresting doorway leads to a golden, oval sanctuary.
Sunlight floods the space from above, through a mammoth ring of windows that rims an enormous disc in the center of the ceiling. It bathes the rough, natural gold/brown/beige/gray stone on the chamber’s walls. The positive psychological implications of being in a naturally lit environment are discussed in depth here. Because of the rock formation’s shape, into which the sanctuary is cut, the windows over the altar are larger, and the space under them is brighter. This draws your eyes to that part of the room. The combination of the colors of the light and the stones is perfectly relaxing. Copper on the cupola and the front of the balconies enhances the golden ambiance. For more on how colors on surfaces and in light influence our mood, read this article.
The rounded space, with its domed ceiling, entered through a narrow opening from the outside world, feels organically nurturing and womblike. Those of us who have been raised in the rectilinear Western world find it striking to be in rounded spaces. Combining the round space with relaxing colors and lighting makes us thoughtful, not sleepy. Places featuring rounded contours and lines relax and comfort us, as discussed in this article. The mullions between the windows in the cupola and the straight rows of pews inject a sense of order, confirming that this is a planned space. These details enhance the feeling of security generated by the materials and architectural forms.
In Temppeliaukio the soundscaping is ethereal. What makes it really different, and relaxing, is the burbling water that cascades from the inner walls of the sanctuary. Research has repeatedly shown that hearing nature sounds relaxes us and supports our cognitive restoration after we’ve been mentally exhausted, as discussed in this article. The architects incorporated the sound of gently moving water into the environment by intermittently allowing in the naturally-occurring springs that were exposed as the walls were being carved.
Like other powerful spiritual spaces, Temppeliaukio Church encourages people to think deeply about issues that are important to them via its calming, comfortable, secure ambiance.