Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirke

Norway's only official cathedral, this building made of titanium shelters a 300-seat nave, and hosts the regular church services as well as key music performances.

Information Sheet

New Build Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirke   www.nordlyskatedral.no

Location Alta, Norway.

Project Cost 120 million NOK (approx. 15 million € according to the opening year's conversion rate).

Time Frame Design: 2002-2009. Construction: 2010-2013. Opening: February 2013.

Owner Alta kirkelige fellesråd / Alta commune, Norway.

Architect(s) Link Arkitektur,Norway   linkarkitektur.com  •  Schmidt/Hammer/Lassen Architects, Denmark   www.shl.dk

Seat Count 300-seat main church auditorium.

Uses Concert hall for organ, choral and chamber music. Rehearsals and recordings. Church services.

Services Acoustic concept and detailed design of main church auditorium with curved surfaces, including variable acoustics.

Team Thomas Wulfrank, Eckhard Kahle, Kahle Acoustics. Svein Folkvord, Tønnes Ognedal, Sinus AS, Stavanger. Sara Vehviläinen, Henrik Møller, Akukon Oy, Helsinki.

1/6Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirkeExterior view of the nearly completed building, February 2013. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
2/6Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirkeExterior view of the nearly completed building, February 2013. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
3/6Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirkeAll walls of the church are concave, which called for special acoustic analysis and adapted treatment. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
4/6Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirkeInterior view of the church. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
5/6Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirkeInterior view of the church auditorium, with its acoustically diffusing corian elements, breaking up sound reflections from the curved geometry. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
6/6Nordlyskatedralen Alta kirkeAcoustically perforated concrete walls, concealing an acoustic volume behind. Photo © Kahle Acoustics