Copenhagen: The Latest Architecture and News

+ 7

+ 19

"Let’s meet on the red square.” The artists behind Superkilen explain how this colorful wedge shaped public park in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a collaboration based on extreme civic participation.

A public park in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, Denmark, Superkilen was developed by artists’ group Superflex in collaboration with architectural firms Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Topotek1. The park was officially opened in June 2012.

In this interview two members of Superflex, Jakob Fenger and Bjørnstjerne Christiansen, tell us about the ideas behind the project, and how it came about as an extreme example of citizen inclusion and collaboration: "We found it interesting to look at this very diverse group of people in regard to culture, social standing, nationality, etc., and then see it as a rich and significant foundation for impacting the area these people live in."

More after the break.

David Zahle, a partner at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Lead Architect on the recently opened Danish National Maritime Museum, spoke to Mies. UK earlier this year. The practice, widely known for its creative approach to the issue of sustainability (sustainability should be experienced rather than hidden), recently won an an international competition to design a new Waste-to-Energy plant in Copenhagen.

Read more and watch the interview after the break...

As explained by this article in the Guardian, planners in Copenhagen are thinking ahead - to the years 2050 and even 2100 - to propose plans that will cope with the storms and floods that will threaten the low-lying city due to climate change. From "percolating pavements," "pocket parks" and "cloudburst boulevards," read about some of the innovative measures they are proposing, many of which are now being adopted around the world, here.

+ 3

+ 13

+ 16

+ 14

BIG, WHR and Arup have been shortlisted alongside two other design teams to participate in the second phase of the design competition for what will be Denmark’s largest hospital. The 124,000 square meter facility, known as the Nyt Hospital Nordsjælland, is planned to be built north of Copenhagen.

According to the jury, “BIG’s ideas, together with the large green spaces and green surfaces, mean that we really can talk about a healing hospital in the best possible interpretation of the concept.”

We will keep you updated as details of the other shortlisted teams emerge. 

Mateusz Mastalski + Ole Robin Storjohann shared with us their 'Live Between Buildings!' proposal for the New Vision of Loft 2 Competition organized by Fakro, which aims to create a new way of living in the city. Infills between existing buildings that consist almost entirely of Fakro window technology enable a life hyper-close to nature and city life, while on the same time exploiting the qualities of the already existing blind walls of the city. With minimal footprint and facade surface, but a maximum of living quality, the Live Between Buildings! project contributes to a denser, more sustainable city of the future.

+ 12

+ 14

Zaha Hadid Architects worked together with design offices Kollision, CAVI and Wahlberg to create the interactive installation 'Parametric Space' for the exhibition 'Zaha Hadid - World Architecture', which is on view at the Danish Architecture Centre through September 29, 2013. The installation is a fully parametric space that reacts to the visitors' movements by changing shape and expression. Learn more after the break.

Opening Friday, June 28, the Zaha Hadid - World Architecture exhibition will be the first solo show in Copenhagen, which runs until September 29. Iraqi-British architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Zaha Hadid is one of the most sought after, admired and discussed architects in the world, and has developed this extraordinary experience in collaboration with the Danish Architecture Centre. The pre-opening talk begins on opening day at 5:00pm with Patrik Schumacher (director and senior designer at Zaha Hadid Architects), and Kent Martinussen (CEO - Danish Architecture Centre). For more information, please visit here.

ONV Arkitekter and JAJA Architects recently won the 4th delivery of the affordable housing concept AlmenBolig+ in collaboration with Bascon and ScandiByg. Consisting of 3-400 housing units on sites in and around Copenhagen, their winning proposal offers a huge variation of housing sizes and building typologies. Also, by using the prefab module, this ensures a free and flexible design of each area. More images and architects’ description after the break.

+ 29

+ 19