Dortheavej/

BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group

Denmark

Project Details

Location

Location(City/Country):

Copenhagen / Denmark
Tipology

Tipology:

Residential
Year

Year (Design/Construction):

2013 / 2018
Area

Area (Net/Gross):

- / 6800 m2
Operational Carbon emissions

Operational Carbon emissions (B6) kgCO2e/m2/y:

0
Embodied Carbon emissions

Embodied Carbon emissions (A1-A3) kgCO2e/m2:

0
  • The design is based on prefabricated concrete blocks which are multiplied throughout the building.
  • Use of wooden planks in the facade and in the flooring of the apartments.

Project description as provided by the architects.

BIG fulfills “Homes for All” mission for non-profit affordable housing association Lejerbo with the 6,800m2 winding wall in Copenhagen’s multicultural northwest area. The building offers 66 new homes to low-income citizens featuring unprecedented 3.5 m ceilings, generous floor to ceiling windows and outdoor terraces, realized on a strict budget.

Named after its address Dortheavej in the northwest part of Copenhagen, the 5-story building winds through the area characterized by car repair shops, storage and industrial buildings from the 1930s-50s. BIG was commissioned to design Dortheavej in 2013 by Danish non-profit affordable housing association Lejerbo whose mission was drafted by Danish urban space designer Jan Gehl. BIG was asked to create much needed public space in the area while keeping the pedestrian passageways open and the adjacent green yard untouched.

The characteristic checkered pattern of Dortheavej is based on a singular prefab structure. Conceived as a porous wall, the building gently curves in the center, creating space for a public plaza towards the street on the south side and an intimate green courtyard towards north. On the street level, the building opens up to allow the residents and general public to pass seamlessly into the courtyard.

The housing modules repeat along the curve and are stacked to the height of the surrounding buildings. The stacking creates additional space for each apartment to have a small terrace, providing a setting for healthy, sustainable living.

On the sunny south side, balconies retract and add depth to the facade while on the northern side, the facade is even. Long wooden planks cover the facade on all sides, highlighting the modules and alternating to accentuate the checkered pattern.

Large floor to ceiling windows in the apartments allow lots of daylight into the units and outside views into the green courtyard and the surrounding neighborhood.

The size of the apartments ranges from 60 to 115 m2 and all the materials are kept very simple with wood and concrete in light colors dominating inside and out.

The north-facing facade looks towards an enclosed green courtyard which residents of Dortheavej and the neighboring buildings can use for recreational activities.

In the beginning of 2018, BIG and Lejerbo were honored by the Danish Association of Architects with the Lille Arne Award for prioritizing the spatial qualities of the residences and the building strategy on a strict affordable housing budget.

Partners in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Finn Nørkjær, David Zahle, Ole Elkjær-Larsen, Cat Huang

Project Managers: Per Bo Madsen

Design Lead: Cat Huang

Team: Alberte Danvig, Alejandro Mata Gonzales, Alina Tamosiunaite, Birgitte Villadsen, Claudio Moretti, Dag Præstegaard, Daruisz Duong Vu Hong, Enea Michelesio, Esben Christoffersen, Ewelina Moszczynska, Frederik Lyng, Henrik Kania, Høgni Laksáfoss, Jakob Andreassen, Jonas Aarsø Larsen, Karl Aarso Larsen, Katerina Joannides, Krista Meskanen, Laura Wätte, Lucas Torres Aguero, Maciej Jakub Zawaszki, Maria Teresa Fernandez Rojo, Michael Schønemann Jensen, Mikkel Marcker Stubgaard, Nigel Jooren, Rasmus Pedersen, Robinson Neuville, Sergiu Calacean, Taylor McNally-Anderson, Terrence Chew, Tobias Hjortdal, Tobias Vallø Sørensen

Client: Bo-Vita

Collaborators: MOE

Photography: Rasmus Hjortshøj – COAST

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