Danish architects COBE and Transform have won a competition to design a new Culture House and Library in Copenhagen.
Renders are by Luxigon.
Here’s some info from COBE:
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CULTURE HOUSE + LIBRARY IN COPENHAGEN BY COBE AND TRANSFORM
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Type: Competition 1st prize
Client: Copenhagen Municipality
Program: Culture house + library
Total floor area: 1800 m2
Status: Ongoing – To be realized in 2010
Architects: COBE + Transform
Web: www.cobe.dk, www.transform.dk
The Northwest area of Copenhagen is located in the diverse and lively transition zone between the dense urban Nørrebro area and the villa neighbourhoods at the edge of the city. Even though many people live and work in the multi-ethnic Northwest Copenhagen, the area is by many Copenhageners mainly passed through going in and out of the city by car. The reason for this is the area’s vicinity to numerous entry roads as well as the lack of cultural facilities and recreational areas.
Programme
The new Culture House + Library is composed of several elements: Rethinking and modernisation of an existing culture house, a merger of two newer libraries, and the addition of a new culture hall, together forming an enormous potential as a new Culture House for the whole area.
This can make up the significant and attractive cultural institution which the neighbourhood lacks today, creating a strong sense of community. The new Culture House + Library can be the missing link for the Northwest area, and will be placed centrally in the neighbourhood’s and the people’s awareness. The house must prove itself functionally and be emphasised visually as a house growing out of the rough urbanity of the area – possibly starting up a necessary dialogue between the new and old in the neighbourhood.
Urban passage
The building has two entrances. One from the north and one from the south, making the foyer act as an urban passage for the neighbourhood. For everyone it is possible and legitimate to walk through the building without any errands, and more people will feel inspired to spending time in the building. The passage is a simple gesture of how open the Culture house will be towards the city and its citizens. The building is fundamentally based on democratic principles: open, accessible and transparent. The building is designed to include and welcome all, and act as a platform for dialogue.
Diversity
The complex has an intricate program. It is a dynamic figure of open and closed areas, which is occupied by the library and at the same time used for both fixed functions and flexible areas. This gives a varied coherence between open and closed spaces. Open spaces marked by the immediate context and the closed areas as completely choreographed library spaces for, amongst others, children and youths.
The top
As a main gesture, the culture and concert hall is placed at the top of the building. A powerful object that seems to defy the laws of gravity, the position of the hall encourage people to move across the building towards the magnificent view over Copenhagen. The placement of the hall will leave a strong, dynamic impression on those passing by. The experience of a new initiative, opening up for a dialogue between the new and the old, the young and the elderly. A much needed institution for arts and culture.
Above: ground floor plan
Above: first floor plan
Above: second floor plan
Above: third floor plan
Above: section
Above: section
Above: section
Above: section
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Posted by Marcus Fairs
March 26th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I thought this was the new OMAMVRDVBIGJDS, but it isn’t.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Ok, that was mean. It’s simple and clear. I like that.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Keep it simple, keep it rational.
March 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I can see Rem Koolhaas’s book being used in this project
March 26th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
isn’t OMA building/planning quite a similar building in the same city?
March 26th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
i wonder when luxigon is going to claim part of the credit for all of their images
March 26th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
i like it, but this way of thinking and operating , in architecture, is quite dated.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
is everything just a passing fad? [rationale] as thinking and [logic] as operations are hardly considered ideas for the “moment”, no? I should think they are timeless and should exist in all substantive works of architecture or is my thinking “quite dated” too?
March 26th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
a lot of strange things happening on the plans, that dont seem to appear in 3d or in the sections
March 26th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
it s oma s library at seattle without pantyhose
March 27th, 2009 at 12:50 am
box is the new blob
March 27th, 2009 at 3:03 am
nice patterns
March 27th, 2009 at 8:19 am
why these collumns? If you want to use this concept. Get rid of them.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Modern architects are now captured by the forth generation commercial architecture. It is now the urgence for those who aims to prevail wht freedom archiecture can explore.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:46 am
hey I really like the floorplans and section
March 27th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I absolutely like the Render-Style. Nice project!
March 27th, 2009 at 11:27 am
x AL architecture is not timeless, as you know. the ’spirit of time’ change costantly and become rapidly something different. I loved this project, but it seems something who belong to an ended cycle. the skin of the building? ok … the armony of the volumes? (OMA’s boxes?) ok – what’s new? architecture is fashion intended, ’cause contemporary architects had become stylists , and architecture had become seasonal ! bye
March 27th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
neoprene,
hopefuly your idea of architects as stylists of seasonal elements (decorative?) in architecture will pass. A thoughtful conception of space (locus) and its relationship to the surroundings, as well as intelligent dialogues between structure and form will always remain. everything else can be decadent and vain, stylistic and seasonal one may say, and therefore, indeed, passes. Confusing strong principles of spatial conception for a passing style is quite alarming! I’m afraid you’re misinformed! bye
March 27th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
in a provocative perspective, F.N., an italian architect,during a conference, said: >>we have to build our constructions with dynamite in the pilars<<. i think it could be a funny thought. there are many different principles of spatial conceptions, principles that could represent a personal interpretation of the spatial solutions by the architects. are you speaking about ‘rules’ of architectonic planning?
March 27th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
jin, most often render houses don’t get credited. in the case of luxigon i guess most ppl know its them anyway
March 27th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
looks like the work of a young beebe, tormented by older pran
March 28th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Good work Eric de Broche and company!
March 28th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Very much with very little. The principle of stacking volumes produces a lot of interesting spaces.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:44 am
A very simple, clear and elegant execution by the architects to accommodate a set of complex programs. The concept of books stacking up to form the volumetric spaces is a good strategy.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:21 pm
des livres superposé pour une bibliothéque :une belle métaphore ,elle est dans ca place
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
i’m wondering about moderate scale of the project. i like it