The transformation of a neglected storage space in the basement of the Jesuit residence in Østerbro, Copenhagen, into a place dedicated to prayer and contemplation.

The unique spatial qualities of the place – a sequence of three rooms with limited, subdued natural light – enabled the creation of a distinctive, secluded interior of cave-like character, where the interplay of light and shadow fosters a sense of safety and concentration.

 

 

The iconographic programme draws on the Paschal mystery – Christ’s death, the Harrowing of Hell, and His Resurrection – culminating in the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The formal language draws on elements of Byzantine and Ethiopian traditions, combined with geometric abstraction and an exploration of the multisensory qualities that shape the experience of being-in-space. The project approaches sacred architecture as a place of intimate retreat and withdrawal from the world, offering respite from sensory overload.