Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)

템펠리아우키오 암석교회

Temppeliaukio Church, also called the Church of the Rock, is a Lutheran church in the Töölö district of Helsinki, Finland. It was designed by the architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969. The main hall was dug straight into natural granite bedrock, and the rough rock walls were left visible inside.

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At a glance

Country: Finland
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Built: 1969
Height: 13 m
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)?

Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) is in Helsinki, Finland.

When was Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) built?

Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) was built in 1969.

How tall is Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church)?

Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) is about 13 m tall.

A church excavated directly into solid granite, with a copper dome and skylight over a raw rock interior.

The church is famous for its mix of nature and modern design. A copper-lined dome sits over the hall, with a ring of skylights letting in daylight. It seats about 750 people and is both a working church and a popular concert hall and tourist spot.

How was it built?

Helsinki planned a church on this rocky hill as early as 1906. Several design competitions failed, and a plan by J. S. Sirén began in November 1939, but World War II stopped the work. In the end the Suomalainen brothers dug the church into the bedrock instead of building on top of it. They kept much of the surrounding rock, then added copper, concrete and glass, so the hall feels like a cave filled with light.

Visiting today

The church is still used for services, weddings and other ceremonies. Its sound is so clear that it is a favourite place for concerts. It also draws many visitors: a record 938,000 people came in 2019. Inside, you can see bare granite, a pipe organ and daylight pouring in through the ring of windows beneath the dome.

Fun facts

It was blasted straight into solid granite, and its acoustics make it a popular concert hall.
The main hall was dug into solid granite, and much of the rock is still visible inside.
A record 938,000 visitors came in 2019.
From the outside, the dome and skylights can look like a flying saucer, as Korean sources point out.