Folkehuset Absalon, Copenhagen

Folkehuset Absalon is a former church that now serves as a community house, with a bar and activities that include an evening dinner. Arthur Wittmaack and Vilhelm Hvalsøe designed the building, combining Romanesque architecture with modern architecture. Construction began in 1926, and the church opened on 2 September 1934.

Its dedication honours Bishop Absalon. In 2013, the church was among the Copenhagen churches closed by Denmark’s Ministry of Culture. A Danish entrepreneur then bought it for 10 million Danish krone and converted it into the lively communal place you see today. The change is the striking detail here: a building created for worship now brings people together around food, conversation, and shared activities.