Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter
17/01/2018.
[Varnhem] Sweden
metalocus, JORGE FERRER
metalocus, JORGE FERRER
To make the ruins of the church accessible to the public, the foundations of the church with its tombs should be protected from weather and wind. Through a single superstructure, the base is protected and a space is created to experience and tell the story of this place.
Exterior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Exterior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Exterior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Exterior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Exterior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Interior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Interior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Interior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Interior view. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Detail. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter. Photography © Antonius van Arkel, AIX Arkitekter
Site plan. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter.
Ground floor plan. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter.
Elevation. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter.
Section. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter.
Section. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter.
Axonometric detail. Kata farm by AIX Arkitekter.
The superstructure designed by AIX Arkitekter border the ruin and tombs and it is 12 meters wide, 19 meters long and 12 meters high. The building is not acclimatized. The existing road from the monastery has an area of compressed earth to facilitate the visit to the hill.
Description of project by AIX Arkitekter
In 2005 the archaeological excavations began on a hill near the monastery church of Varnhem, Sweden. Remains of a 9th century agricultural church were found, testifying that Västergötland was Christianized 100 years earlier than previously believed. The ruins are the remains of the oldest Christian church in Sweden at the moment and probably even the oldest surviving building in Sweden. Kata is the woman who governed the estate and facilitated the construction of the church, which is why this place is called the Kata estate (Kata gård).
To make the ruins of the church accessible to the public, the foundations of the church with its tombs should be protected from weather and wind. Through a single superstructure, the base is protected and a space is created to experience and tell the story of this place.
The building is a large roof that is constructed with laminated wooden beams in the form of an equilateral triangle in its cross section, in the manner of A. The roof beams are placed on horizontal support slabs of glued wood, resting on a series of pillars in the ground. The sloping walls of the building are covered by a wooden roof treated with pine tar. The nave of the old church is open to see the masonry from above. The glass railings allow to see the foundations. Even the tomb of Kata from the mid-tenth century is visible through the glazed floor. An incision in the foundation wall provides access to the stone basement. The floor in the basement is covered with simple wooden panels. A glazed lifting platform is installed between the basement and the superstructure as an accessible alternative to the entrance staircase.
The superstructure bordering the ruin and tombs is 12 meters wide, 19 meters long and 12 meters high. The building is not acclimatized. The existing road from the monastery has an area of compressed earth to facilitate the visit to the hill.
In May 2017, the exhibition hall and weather protection cover was opened on the ruins of the oldest church in Sweden.
More information
Architects
Magnus Silfverhielm, AIX Arkitekter
Team
Klas Eriksson, Anders Widegren, Henrik Strid, Lotta Lindgren, AIX Arkitekter
Collaborators
Illustrations.- Maria Kempe, AIX Arkitekter. Project Manager.- Ingvar Blixt. Structure and elevator.- Per Sjögren. Landscape.- COWI AB. Electric engineering.- Projektengagemang. Fire specialist.- Skaraborgs Brandkonsult AB
Construction contractor
Bygghyttan i Karlsborg
Arksam, Myrenbergs, Arteno, Nyström Plankkontor, Silfverhielm, Johansson & Uppling. AIX Arkitekter
AIX was created in 2001 when Arksam, Myrenbergs, Arteno, Nyström Plankkontor, Silfverhielm and Johansson & Uppling joined forces. Rosberg & Engström joined 2005. Since the 70's, we have been living in comfortable premises in the industrial center of Ragnar Östberg at Vanadisplan in Vasastaden. Now we are Sweden's 10th largest architectural office and owned by 12 major shareholders and 40's employees. Today, we are just over 100 people, most of them architects, but there are also interior designers, engineers, architects, building adventurers, theater consultants, lighting designers, economists, IT technicians and communicators.
We focus on three main areas: city planning, new construction and renovation / restoration.
Their urban planning commissions include visionary design proposals for major areas and master planning of properties and entire neighbourhoods. For the most part, they are commissioned by municipalities and property developers on the basis of competitions and parallel assignments. Within the area of new construction, they work mainly on residential properties, schools and public buildings at all stages; from design concept to finished construction documents. Renovation and restoration involves preserving existing buildings and, usually, adding extensions in a sensitive environment. The firm’s antiquarians carry out cultural history assessments, and develop preservation programmes and preservation and maintenance plans. They also design interiors in old or completely new environments.
