In Copenhagen’s North Harbour district, where shipping cranes meet a bohemian enclave, a twelve-sided wooden sanctuary rises modestly yet confidently. Tiny Church Tolvkanten covers just 75 square metres, but it embodies a vision much larger: to redefine sacred architecture through sustainability, craftsmanship, and light.
Church – Copenhagen, Denmark
Architect: Julius Nielsen OFFICE
Photographers: Hampus and Kim Høltermand
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Douglas Classic/Natural Mix
Curated Widths—mixed lengths and widths
Twelve wooden facets, symbolising Christ’s apostles, form a circle around a light-filled sanctuary, crowned by an oculus, opening to the sky. Modest in scale yet monumental in intent, Danish architect Julius Nielsen’s Tiny Church Tolvkanten is designed not as a monument but as a tabernacle—temporary, movable, and rooted in Christian symbolism.
The church’s twelve-sided geometry creates a non-hierarchical plan, inviting both liturgy and community. Material clarity defines the space: black lime-painted timber outside, silicate-coated walls and whitewashed Douglas floor planks within.
Sustainability is embedded throughout. With a verified LCA of 2.8 kg CO₂e/m²/year, Tiny Church was recognised as Denmark’s second most sustainable building. Raised lightly on screw piles and designed for relocation, Tiny Church is flexible by nature. It welcomes baptisms, concerts, dinners, and moments of reflection alike.
At the heart of the project is Douglas—tactile, warm and enduring. The flooring is laid in Curated Widths—planks of different lengths and widths—creating a web-like pattern that draws the eye inward and upward towards the central skylight. This design optimises material use and creates a grounding atmosphere, where every plank resonates with intention.
“The high-quality Douglas fir floor, with its thoughtfully positioned boards and rich textures, creates a warm and resonant atmosphere, imbuing the space with depth,” says Julius Nielsen.
The Douglas fir extends beyond the floors and onto bespoke furniture—including a foldable communion table and baptism font—crafted by Danish carpentry Rammelisten and designed by Julius Nielsen OFFICE. Finished with natural oil, the golden tone contrasts with the whitewashed floors, embodying both elegance and adaptability.
Douglas offcuts were repurposed for skirtings and door reveals, ensuring minimal waste and reinforcing the project’s Spartan ethos. Modest in scale but monumental in message, Tiny Church Tolvkanten proves that when visionary design meets enduring craftsmanship, even the smallest spaces can carry infinite resonance.