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islev kirke, copenhagen denmark

by architects inger and johannes exner (both 1926 -)

 

inaugurated 1970 and situated in a dull neighbourhood adjacent to a busy main road the church occupies the site with a strong and somewhat hostile presence

the exterior facades almost windowless are contrasted by the inner courtyard far more welcoming and with delicate detailing whereever you turn

the bricks chosen by the exner couple for both the facades and the grottolike, sinister interiors were meant to be trashed because of their irregularity in both shape and colour

combined with the excessive amount of mortar left hanging the result is absolutely wonderful, coarse and tactile in a lewerentz way -

the roof construction in the nave is likewise incredibly rough reminiscent of a scaffolding rather than a church

in the choice of materials the exners - and the client too - demonstrated bravery and ingenuity in a way seldom found and nowadays virtually nonexsisting!

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Uploaded on March 11, 2014
Taken on March 9, 2014