10/04/2026
Extending a 550-year-old church is not something you see every day.
The renovation and extension of Lieto’s medieval stone church is a rare case in Finnish architectural heritage — medieval churches here have not been extended for over a century.
The new addition, known as the Bread Room, creates a space for gathering and community. It connects to the historic structure through a glazed transition, clearly separating old and new while allowing them to work together.
The façade is made of Nordic Brown copper.
Its dark, calm surface forms a subtle contrast with the light stone walls, while still respecting the overall composition of the church. Instead of competing with history, the extension adds a new architectural layer — contemporary, but quiet.
In scale and form, the design follows the adjacent sacristy, helping the new structure integrate naturally into its surroundings.
This is what copper does well in architecture:
it allows new elements to belong — without pretending to be old.
Project details:
Lieto Church Extension
Location: Lieto, Finland
Architect: Architecturestudio NOAN
Material: Nordic Brown (profiled)
Photos: Antti Partanen
If you’re working with historic buildings or sensitive environments, material choice becomes critical early in the design process.
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