In 2023, the Church Foundation and Hans Egedes Parish held a design competition for a new church in Copenhagen. Out of over 100 entries, local architect Julius Nielsen’s design proposal, Tiny Church Tolvkanten, won. Collaborating with Danish timber flooring manufacturer Dinesen, Nielsen’s design eschews the traditional iconography of churches for the honesty of high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Humble in its design yet elevated in its presence, Tiny Church Tolvkanten uses wood to encourage inward spiritual and architectural reflection.
The 807-square-foot church is located on a small parcel of land covered in spotted grass and gravel in the industrial shipyard of Copenhagen’s Nordhaven neighborhood. Nielsen intentionally designed the church’s structure to be a 12-sided polygon, as it represents Christ’s twelve apostles. The facade of the timber dodecagon is coated in a matte black, lime-based paint to protect it from the salty coastal climate while also creating solemnity. A veranda wraps around the entire structure with a continuous bench, inviting both pause and gathering.
Inside, the church is immediately warm and welcoming, predominantly clad in Dinesen’s Douglas fir wood. The soap-treated, white-washed floor has a web-like pattern that guides eyes towards the center of the church, where natural light enters the space from an oculus. The surrounding wooden walls and columns are coated with earth-toned silicate paint, offering a neutral base for the ceiling that is created out of white-washed facade boards. The bottom of the boards are cut in a subtle zig-zag pattern, where it meets curtains draped in between the spruce columns.
“Tiny Church Tolvkanten blends modest scale with meticulous attention to detail,” Nielsen shared. “Unlike traditional churches that use symbols and sacred images, this sanctuary looks inward. Its sacred essence is instead derived from the architecture, carefully chosen materials, and the gentle filtering of daylight.”
In addition to the rich materiality, Nielsen also prioritized sustainability. The timber-based structure and modular construction make it, as Dinesen states, the second-most sustainable building in Denmark. Raised on 17 screw piles, the design reduces the need for excavation and impact on the land.
The versatility of Tiny Church Tolvkanten also transfers to the functionality. Beyond communion and baptisms, the building will host yoga, community dinners, and concerts. The flexibility comes in part with the custom furniture used in the church, all designed by Julius Nielsen OFFICE and crafted by Rammelisten.
Hans Peter Dinesen, brand director of Dinesen and fifth-generation family member commented on the project by saying, “With Tiny Church Tolvkanten, we continue this legacy—bridging tradition and innovation.” Quiet confidence is emulated through the design, allowing both physical and spiritual space for the community to be the center of the sanctuary.