The tower of the church (1936), designed by W.G. Palmqvist, dominates the views as a fixed point in the townscape. The new extension forms a continuation of the existing small wing on the south side of the church. The connection to the older wing is so natural that it is not really perceived as an original part of the church. The three small, gable-roofed volumes settle next to the large church. The roofs repeat the orientation of the church’s pitched roof, and the entrance is also from the same direction as in the church – hence creating a clear and cohesive frontage. The rear side caters for the needs of service traffic.

In front of the church there is a small park, an important part of which is the war cemetery, with each grave marked by a cross. The extension’s three small-scaled gables energise a connection to the field of small crosses. The fascinating miniature world emphasizing the ground level is simultaneously both playful and very sincere.

The white facades and gable roofs of the extension enhance the connection to the church. The forms are not merely a contextual adaptation to the environment, but rather articulate the clear structure. The gable-roofed volumes provide a general orientation and repeated lines. The methodical approach continues in the lines of the windows and doors that permeate the whole. At its core, the picturesque group of buildings is in fact a rational grid.

The interior spaces are carefully arranged as determined by the structure. Starting from the foyer, there is an enfilade of transverse spaces that continues into the main church space. The spaces for services and maintenance form a narrow zone on the service yard side. White dominates the interiors, and the spaces consistently follow the form of the pitched roof. The square windows extend down to the floor, thus accentuating the ground level, with views opening up of the adjacent park and in between the structures. The entrance, windows and doors are arranged axially with respect to the roof ridges, and in two transverse lines. The various functions have been successfully integrated to naturally be a part of the structure.

Source: Jorma Mukala’s review in Finnish Architectural Review 3/2021