Architecture tours

Tour 1. Østerbro

A healthy city is a city where its inhabitants can thrive, live in good conditions and in harmony with nature. In Østerbro we can find both historical and recent projects formulating an answer to “The healthy city”.

Østerbro is the first “Climate quarter” in Copenhagen, creating green spaces which help coping with large volumes of water and benefit the local residents. Well-being is also created by the shaping of a community, translated into different housing typologies. We will pass by Brumleby, a row house area and Charlottehaven and Øbro, rethinking of the classic Copenhagen perimeter block.

Østerbro is an excellent example of creating a healthy city, where the social and physical environment are constantly being improved. The climate change is used as a momentum to create more resilient and social urban spaces.

During a 4 hours bike tour we will address amongst others:

• Tåsinge square | GHB

A well-designed urban space uses sculptural objects to illustrate its functionality: containing and cleaning water run-off.

• Charlottehaven | SLA – Lungaard & Tranberg

Five building layers with mixed functions enclose a garden filled with plants who tell the story of the nearby sea.

• Sankt Kjelds plads | SLA

The asphalt of an urban and traffic space is where possible replaced by greenery, assisting the area in their rainwater management.

• Mærsk tower, Brumleby, Fælledparken, etc…

Tour 2. Nordhavn

Nordhavn is being developed into a sustainable neighbourhood of the future, in order to support Copenhagen’s aim of becoming CO2-neutral in 2025. Explore with us how sustainable living is made possible!

The backbone for Nordhavns sustainable development is the metro line, linking Nordhavn station to the other districts. This establishes a “5 minute city”, where every inhabitant is within walking distance from public transport. The industrial harbour history offers an inspiring basis for the new architecture. Old industrial buildings are renovated and offer a historical reference for new structures.

Nordhavn is being developed into Copenhagens sustainable neighborhood of the future, in order to support the city*s aim of becoming CO2-neutral in 2025. The history of the industrial harbor offers inspiration for its development.

We conduct a 4 hours biking tour along amongst others:

• Park & Play | JAJA architects

The parking house is a hybrid structure providing public space in the densely built neighbourhood (includes visit to the fitness roof).

• The silo | COBE

A renovated old silo forms an orientation point and landmark in the new neighbourhood.

• Copenhagen International school | C.F. Møller

The school has four different towers and a unique façade, covered by solar panels which supply half of the school’s energy consumption.

• The Audo, Goteborg plads, Waterculture house, Kanonhuset, etc…

Tour 3. Ørestad

Some of the most interesting new developments in Copenhagen can be found on Amager, where the Ørestad district was constructed on condemned ground. Join us on a tour to discover different architects’ answer to future living.

Ørestad is primarily established as an international business district, which has excellent opportunities for living, learning and enjoying culture and nature. The district is renowned for its room for experiment, offering architects the opportunity to realize bold projects with innovative concepts. In this strong frame of infrastructure, water elements and green areas, new communities are being established and a unique identity is being shaped.

Ørestad is being developed according to a strong and clear plan in which different design ideas can flourish. We focus on its development as a future living lab, where new dwelling typologies and public buildings teach important lessons on community, sustainability and materiality.
We explore these on a 4 hours biking tour along amongst others:

• Upcycle studios & The Resource Rows | Lendager group

Two circular dwelling projects, researching the physical manifestation of the sharing economy without compromising on aesthetics, price or quality.

• Kalvebod fælled school | Lundgaard & Tranberg

The 360 degrees shape of this school is practical and symbolic. Through its shape and organisation it puts an emphasis on the important cornerstones of education.
Simian
A group of young artists reestablishes an underground parking space at Ørestad station into an exhibition space.

• BIG Trilogy (8 house, VM housing, The mountain), Tietgen student housing, etc…

Tour 4. South Harbor

The high-end architectural projects at the harbor are eminent examples of the transformation of Copenhagen into one of the best cities in the world. We circle the harbor and tell you the story of how the Copenhagen we know now came to be.

The harbor makes Copenhagen into a very attractive city to live in. Its development in the last decades has been overwhelming. The water has been made more accessible by creating new blue public space, where there is room for living, culture and recreation. This went hand in hand with the creation of new bridges, each one with its own design and way of opening.

New public buildings and spaces have drawn the life back to the waterfront. Well-designed harbor baths make it possible to swim where industrial activities dominated. The harbor is once again the beating heart of the city and shows Copenhagen in all its aspects. We explore all this on a 4 hours biking tour along the harbor circle and amongst others:

• BLOX | OMA + Kragh & Berglund

Our home location has a buzzling cityvibe. It is brought by the cars racing underneath and is reflected in the combined program inside.

• Koralbadet Sluseholmen | Danielsen arch

The harbor bath forms a central gathering point, tying together the organic Metropolis building and the new canal development.

• The bicycle snake | Dissing + Weitling

A symbol for the biking culture in Copenhagen and a sculptural element which ties an incoherent urban landscape together.

• Havneholmen, gemini residence, Sluseholmen, etc…

Tour 5. Central Harbor

The high-end architectural projects at the harbor are eminent examples of the transformation of Copenhagen into one of the best cities in the world. We circle the harbor and tell you the story of how the Copenhagen we know now came to be.

The harbor makes Copenhagen into a very attractive city to live in. Its development in the last decades has been overwhelming. The water has been made more accessible by creating new blue public space, where there is room for living, culture and recreation. This went hand in hand with the creation of new bridges, each one with its own design and way of opening.

New public buildings and spaces have drawn the life back to the waterfront. Well-designed harbor baths make it possible to swim where industrial activities dominated. The harbor is once again the beating heart of the city and shows Copenhagen in all its aspects. We explore all the central part of the harbor on a 4 hours biking tour along the harbor circle and amongst others:

• BLOX | OMA + Kragh & Berglund

Our home location has a buzzling cityvibe. It is brought by the cars racing underneath and is reflected in the combined program inside.

• Krøyers Plads | COBE & Vilhelm Laurtizen Architets

The design of the housing project is based on a hyper-democratic and contextual approach

• Opera Park | COBE

The softness of the Opera Park is an inviting, recreational botanical garden above a below underground parking garage.

• Opera, Playhouse, Circle Bridge, etc…

Tour 6. Nørrebro

On this bicycle tour, we explore what makes Nørrebro something very special. The district is considered both ugly and desirable at the same time, which helps to provide a special atmosphere and dynamism.

On this tour we come through a string of pearls of social and green public parks and squares, which help to bind Copenhagen’s most densely populated neighborhoods together in a strong network of identity, belonging and quality of life.

Nørrebro is the most dense and at the same time most diverse neighborhood in Copenhagen. The need for green and recreational urban spaces are constantly craving for new and innovative contributions to the urban context. The heart of the neighborhood are beating at these precious breathing spaces. We explore the unique atmospheres on a 4 hours `pearl on a string´ biking tour of public space amongst others:

• BANANNA PARK | NORD Architects + Schønherr Landskab

A unique co-created pocket park with different zoning areas and atmospheres. The much frequented park space succeeds by a strong ownership of the local residents.

• SUPERKILEN | BIG Architects + TOPOTEK1 & SUPERFLEX

As an open invitation to the surrounding multi-cultural neighborhood the 3-zoned public park forms different gathering points all tied together by the green bicycle lane.

• Blågårds Plads | Ivar Bendtsen + Kai Nielsen

An early example of use of public art integrated into the layout of the public plaza tying into the urban fabric of the former workers district

• Nørrebro Parken, Assistens Kirkegaard, Jægersborggade, The Lakes, Sct. Hans Torv, etc…

Tour 7. Nordvest

Join the bike ride in Copenhagen’s Northwest district, a raw and industrial district that has not yet been explored by most but with lots of charm and potential for development.

Nordvest is home to an immigrant population that is more than twice as large as the concentration of inner Copenhagen and the multiethnic diversity has helped to change the vision for land renewal strategies to now build on citizen-driven development with respect for Nordvest’s inherent culture, history and architecture.

On this tour we will see beautiful examples of housing fitted into the area’s special character and history such as the Emaljehaven by Entasis Architects and common housing by the star architects BIG. We pass by the library of COBE architects which has become a brilliant new landmark and meeting place from where we explore the new square Smedetoften and cycle along Rentemestevej – the area’s new axis with a creative buzz. We end the trip at the renowned Grundtvig’s Church.

Tour 8. Carlsberg

Carlsberg is a great example of a transformation of an industrial city, into a thriving new neighbourhood with high quality urban spaces framed by history and architectural heritage of the old brewery.

The Danish design studio Entasis, has won the largest international architecture award for the world’s best master plan in the development of Carlsberg Byen from old brewery site to Copenhagen district. The master plan and all urban spaces are intended as a vibrant dense city with a maximized building percentage.

Carlsberg is a great example of a transformation of an industrial city, into a thriving new neighbourhood with high quality urban spaces framed by history and architectural heritage of the old brewery.

• J. C. Jacobsens Garden

A botanical free space after 160 years, the beautiful garden is today welcoming everyone to come by and enjoy the trees, flowers, lake and protected architecture of what was once the brewer’s private garden.

• Forskerboliger | PRAKSIS Arkitekter

Honored for its exceptionally high quality where Form, materials and detailing appear rich in experiences.

• Hotel Ottilia| ARKITEMA

Hotel Ottilia is full of brewery historic details and traces. The task thus consisted of bringing history to life in a hotel joining two historic buildings from two entirely different centuries and also establishing attractive as well as modern settings for a quality-minded luxury hotel.

• Krøyers House / Entasis

The project is located at the entrance to Carlsberg and connects to a sequence of distinctive old and new buildings – with the elephant gate as the most well-known motif. Architecturally, Krøyer’s house adheres to this in the choice of materials and detailing.

• Home of Carlsberg, PP Furniture Flagship Store, etc…

Tour 9. Jernbanebyen

Jernbanebyen is a facinating case study of a transformation of a semi-private neighbourhood built for rail related activities, into a thriving new neighbourhood with focus on creative production and carefree green urban spaces.

• Jernbanebyen + COBE

The railway city is the last major piece of urban development in southern Copenhagen. Over the coming years, the landowners, DSB Ejendomsudvikling A/S, Freja Ejendomme A/S and Baneby Konsortiet, will develop the 365,000 m2 development area into a new, modern district.
Jernbanebyen is a former `hidden` workshop area for Danish State rail in Copenhagen. The future new Green neighbourhood will be a landmark for sustainable urban development. Recently the first student tenants has moved in side by side with wooden hangars transformed into social venues for social dining. We explore the unique atmospheres on a 4 hours walking tour through new transformations and temporary projects amongst others:

• Spor10

The vision for the Railway City is to create a green, inclusive and vibrant district in Copenhagen, and we would like to unfold this vision already now with Spor10, which will become one of the district’s central urban spaces. The building houses actors who work with communities, mental and physical health, play, movement, sports, urban development, inclusion and sustainability. With Spor10, we already want to establish communities in the Railway City, before we start the urban development itself and thus lay the foundation stones for a common meeting place and meeting point in the Railway City, where there is room for everyone.

• CPH Village Vesterbro | Archgency

CPH Village Vesterbro is another project of the popular modular housing for students in Copenhagen. The 184 new student homes are, almost literally, on the rails. The modular homes are located in near proximity to Copenhagen Central Station

• BANEGAARDEN | Rønnow Arkitekter

We will wrap up the tour in the heart of DSB’s old railway maintenance area where Banegaarden invites the curious to Social Dining. Explore the wooden sheds normally closed to the public in surroundings from another time period, and see with your own eyes the area’s transformation from decay to green urban oasis.

Tour 10. Amager East

Copenhagen’s Amager EAST district has changed dramatically from a former industrial area into an attractive juxtaposition of living and recreation.

The Beach Park is an almost two-kilometer-long artificial island forming a lagoon, with shallow waters on one side and a sandy beach on the other. The areas natural landscape, with meandering pathways, broad beach areas and low sand dunes is a popular place for all kinds of sun and outdoor relaxation, as well as for sports activities for all.

Kastrup Søbad offers excellent swimming opportunities and great views. The wooden construction creates a microclimate for the users from the wind.

Amager east is a former industrial landscape of Copenhagen. The transformation of the neglected coastal area has been converted into an important new green and blue recreational lung with a thriving new neighborhood with landmark towers and low and dense townhouses. Recently the opening of Copenhagens waste-to-energy plant with recreational programs has transformed the industrial into social venue.

We explore the unique sumbiosis on a 4 hours biking tour through new transformations and temporary projects amongst others:

• Copenhill I BIG Bjarke Ingels Group

The landmark construction of an artificial ski slope with hiking paths on the gigantic slanting roof of this waste-to-energy power plant in an unknown part of Copenhagen are calling for global attention in an yet unseen way. Amager Bakke is the crown jewel of this one of a kind which co-creates the progressive visions of Amager Resource Center with an iconic, multifunctional landmark building meant to attract everything from locals and tourists to sports extremists.

• Amager Strand

The man-made beach Amager Strandpark is a unique combination of natural surroundings and big-city atmosphere, has transformed the once neglected part of Copenhagen into a kind of best of several worlds of living and recreations unseen at these shores. Copenhagen’s Amager district is undergoing a speedy change, crowned by a new skyline visibly from its beach area of Amager Beach Park – Amager Strandpark. The beach is a two-kilometre-long artificial island forming a lagoon, with shallow and calm waters on one side and a sandy beaches on the other. Year round the area is popular for both sunbathing and relaxation, as well as for sports activities.

• Kastrup Seabath I White Architects

Kastrup Seabath is a unique combination offering both a refreshing dip in the summer heat as well as an extraordinary aesthetic experience. With the shape of a conch shell retrieved from the seabed, the beautiful Kastrup Seabath overlooks the Sound. The placement of the bath from the beach is 100 meters out into the Sound, where the water depth allows jumps for the brave.

• Blue Planet I 3XN

Denmarks National Aquarium on the Øresund coast leads visitors deep under the surface of the sea in a spectacular building whose design was inspired by the movement of water.

• Ferring I Foster & Partners

Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S occupies a pivotal waterfront position alongside the Øresund next to Copenhagen International Airport. The building offers fantastic views towards Malmö and the Swedish coast home of its foundation. The building appears on a large plinth which acts as the first line of defense against potential floods.