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Valer Church by Donatas Grinius

Valer Church by Donatas Grinius

Design Ideas
December 16, 2015
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Valer church is a project by architect Donatas Grinius. Våler is a munichiteshlity in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Solør. The oldest information known about Mariakirken, is from the 17th century. It was a stave church, and it was by 1686 in very bad condition. Eight hundred years after Saint Olaf, it probably wasn't the same church-building which was built during his reign. Most probably it had been rebuilt at least once, but it must still have been a few hundred years old. It was restored late 17th century, and then lasted another century.

donatas grinius

Våler rebuilds it’s church for the third time and the church has a long history to reveal. Preserved artifacts are more efficiently integrated within an architecture that is already based on familiar elements. The new Våler church should be seen as a continuation of the already established values. The church’s position in Våler town is very important.
-Donatas Grinius

donatas grinius

donatas grinius

Traditionally, church is supposed to be built in visually accessible and spatially respective place in the landscape and have a strong connection with the main street. The cross plan of the old church was used as an inspiration for the new proposal, in which traditional materials are combined with modern technology.
-Donatas Grinius

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elevation

The task was to design a new church on the existing site, where the old church was burned several years ago. The wooden interiors were chosen based on the local traditions and the exterior is wrapped in metal shingles to preserve the fragile interiors.
-Donatas Grinius

donatas grinius

donatas grinius

The plan of the new church is based on the old building to preserve and expose the remnants of the original foundations and to create an archaeological/preservation site. Even though the materials chosen for the project are traditional, but the contemporary shape requires new technologies and careful understanding of how traditional material like wood can be used in modern architecture.
-Donatas Grinius

donatas grinius

donatas grinius

The project was inspired by the original church that was there before it was burned. (In 29 May 2009 the Våler church was destroyed by an arson attack, which is suspected to be an act of satanist.)
-Donatas Grinius

donatas grinius

donatas grinius

About Donatas Grinius

Donatas Grinius is an architect/3D illustrator from Lithuania, currently living in Norway. He has a bachelor's degree in architecture, from Vilnius Gediminas Technical university, Lithuania. Donatas was awarded best bachelor's diploma project of the year. See more of his works on CargoCollective.

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