The construction of Grundtvigs Kirke in Copenhagen lasted nearly twenty years, starting in the autumn of 1921 and finally completed in 1940. Designed by Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, it transformed humble bricks into a masterpiece of Expressionist architecture. Its pointed interior arches and vaulted ceilings, stepped crenellations, and bulky exterior all pay homage to medieval Gothic and Romanesque styles, while also displaying a deeply modern feel.
David Altrath, a Hamburg-based photographer whose work emphasizes urban and architectural elements, captures the details of Grundtvigs in atmospheric cumulative portraits. Bathed in a soft golden light, the church’s pale yellow bricks seem to glow, complemented by a minimalist interior except for some simple wooden furniture and an altar.
“The building feels both austere and atmospheric, especially the way the light travels through the interior spaces, emphasizing the geometry of the structure,” Alras told Colossal. He is always looking for unique relationships between form, light and atmosphere.
The church’s tall vertical lines and symmetry require careful attention to composition in order to capture the building’s architectural geometry, and interior lighting conditions may change depending on the weather or time of day. “I enjoy working within these constraints and trying to capture the structure of the building and the quiet atmosphere of the space,” he said.
Arras is currently photographing modernist and contemporary architecture across Europe. See more on Instagram.
