Danish Architecture Milestone:
Henning Larsen’s New Church Opens After 500 Years
Danish Church Architecture Henning Larsen Højvangen 2024

Henning Larsen’s Højvangen Church was inaugurated on December 1, 2024, marking a historic milestone as the first church to be built in Skanderborg Parish in over 500 years. The Copenhagen-based architecture firm, in collaboration with Espen Surnevik, Schul Landskab, and Rambøll, has created a 1,500 m² tribute to local landscape and Danish building tradition while paving the way for a more modern church experience.

Partner Nina la Cour Sell explains: “We want to be true to the theological tradition and at the same time reinterpret the church as a destination for present and future needs; a place that can accommodate both everyday life and celebrations, joy and mourning across generations.”

The church appears as a squared pavilion, connected to the existing church center through a partially underground corridor. Contrary to traditional church naves, Højvangen has no apparent front or back, with the baptismal font in the middle as the only permanent fixture. Traditional materials such as brick, oak and brass create a peaceful and timeless atmosphere, while the church can accommodate 350 worshipers.

The project represents a unanimous competition win among proposals from Friis & Moltke Architects, E + N Arkitektur, and Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, establishing a new paradigm for contemporary sacred architecture in Denmark.

Furniture design: A return to form

As part of the project, Henning Larsen partnered with Danish furniture maker Brdr. Krüger to design a new stackable church chair. Named Ekko, the chair combines elegance with durability and is certified to the highest EU standard (L2) for extreme use. Ekko marks Henning Larsen’s return to furniture design after 60 years and will be on display at the Brdr. Kruger showroom during 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, June 18-20, 2025.

Location: Skanderborg, Denmark
Year: 2021-2024
Size: 1,500m² / 16, 146ft²
Client: Skanderborg Parish
Photo credit: Rasmus Hjortsh0j
Architecture: Henning Larsen & Espen Surnevik
Landscape Architecture: Schul Landskab & Planlffigning
Engineering: Ramboll