A narrow hall lined in pale timber, a stair rising towards light at the far end.
Stair hall — rendering

Church of Sweden, New York

Midtown Manhattan, New York, USA · 2016
Location
Midtown Manhattan, New York, USA
Year
2016
Type
Renovation, 1,400 m²
Status
Competition, first prize, 2016; not built
Design architect
Appelquist Architects (Claes-Henric Appelquist)
Architect of record
Kouzmanoff Bainton Architects
Lighting
Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design

Won in competition in 2016: the renovation of the Church of Sweden's building a block from Rockefeller Center, and with it a rethinking of what a church is for on a weekday. Borrowing from sustainable hospitality and from newer models of the workplace, the design treats the building first as a place to gather and to retreat. The sanctuary and the offices sit within that.

Two moves carry it. The stair, the main means of moving through the building, becomes a skylit bell tower that lengthens as you climb. And because a Christian space needs a focal point, every room opens to the back, towards a garden that cascades from roof to basement through the four landscapes of Sweden: pine forest, birch forest, hills and lakes.

“Appelquist Architects’ vision breathes new life and light into the building through the opening of the northern courtyard façade, creating an exciting counterpoint to the beautiful glass façade on 48th Street.” Anders Holst, Chairman, Church of Sweden New York

Line drawing of the building's narrow street front with pointed windows.
Street elevation
A long hall with a brass cross on a stone wall and warm light falling across the floor.
Hall, cross on the stone wall — rendering
A brass cross on a dark stone wall beside pale timber panels.
Cross on the stone wall — rendering
Two cutaway axonometric drawings showing the floors, stair and rooms of the building.
Cutaway axonometrics
A white room with a brass cross on the end wall and low benches along the sides.
Room with cross and benches — rendering
Pale pews facing an altar and lectern beneath three tall pointed windows.
Sanctuary — rendering