Backaryd Church, originally built in 1799, has been transformed to enable a more flexible use of the nave. Café, children’s, meeting, and counselling functions have been relocated from the old parish hall and are now accommodated behind new timber walls in the side aisles. The pews from 1938 have been removed, the wall-to-wall carpets taken out, and the original plank floor from 1799—donated by local farmers—has been uncovered. The floor structure was opened and insulated; every plank was numbered and reinstalled in its exact position after the intervention. The final treatment consisted only of a gentle cleaning with soap and water to preserve the traces of time.
A new geothermal heating system now warms the church, with underfloor heating installed in the newly created rooms of the transepts. A completely new colour scheme elevates the overall spatial experience. Contemporary installations and regulatory requirements have been carefully integrated into the historic structure without compromising its existing qualities or heritage value. Accessibility has been improved through new interior and exterior ramps as well as a fully accessible WC.
Commissioned by: the Parish of Ronneby Photography: Peo Olsson m.fl.