Refurbishment of Nørre Uttrup Kirke in Nørresundby

Completed:

2022

Architect:

Knudsen & Østergaard, Aalborg, DK

Applicator:

P. Andersen & Søn Entreprise A/S, Ishøj, DK

Building Owner:

Local council Hvorup, Nørresundby, DK

Products:

rainscreen cladding facade (StoVentec), brick slips (StoBrick 1572)

Photos:

Michael Ellehammer, Frederiksberg, DK; architecture firm Knudsen & Østergaard

A new system in the smallest of spaces

Damage from water and forestry had wreaked such havoc on the bell tower of Nørre Uttrup Kirke in the Danish town of Nørresundby that refurbishment was unavoidable. One of the stipulations was that the diameter of the tower had to be maintained. Knudsen & Østergaard, an architecture firm based in Aalborg, worked together with Sto to develop a custom solution that would both meet this requirement and refresh the appearance of the tower.

The efflorescence caused by moisture that was evident on the masonry inside the church was rectified by repeated brushing. To prevent residual moisture affecting the new facade construction, the rest of the masonry was first dried out.

To maintain the geometry of the bell tower and protect it against damage from moisture in the future, a shell wall 120 mm thick was removed and replaced with a Sto system solution providing a dual waterproofing layer. In the system, a wall providing protection against rain is ventilated so that water vapour can escape from inside, and water penetrating from outside can be drained away or dried by ventilation.

Ole Knudsen

Knudsen & Østergaard

“The biggest challenges in the refurbishment of the bell tower were the height and retaining the tower’s geometry.”