His point of departure was the fact that the city’s central square is flanked on either side by a hill. One of the main streets leads straight up to the City Hall designed by Eliel Saarinen, whereas the opposite street axis leads to the top of the hill on which Aalto’s new church was erected as the city’s second architectural landmark.

The ground plan is an equilateral triangle with two severed angles. It is placed slightly off the street axis, but a wedge-shaped vestibule added to the structure brings the entrance hall windows, shaped like a monumental cross, at right angles with the street perspective. The facade material is dark red brick except for the massive bell tower of raw concrete, integrated into the northwest corner of the church.