Copenhagen Architecture

ARCHITECTURE IN

Portland Towers was the first building to be finished in the new neighbourhood Århusgadekvarteret in Nordhavn. With their 52 meters’ height, the towers are some of the tallest buildings in Nordhavn, but what’s really interesting about them is their shape. The Portland Towers are former industry silos that was built back in 1979 and used to store cement – something you can’t tell from the ultra-modern design they feature today. In 2013-14, the old silos went through a hefty transformation, and today they serve as eco-certified offices with a stunning 360-degree view of Copenhagen and the Sound. During the reconstruction, the new office building was attached to the exterior of the existing cement silos, where it now hovers 24 meters above ground. The original interior houses the reception, stairs and elevator to the top, where the building's canteen offers a panoramic view of the city. Since Portland Towers is an office building, the inside is not accessible to the public, but you can of course admire it from the outside, if you decide go on an architectural adventure in Copenhagen's new urban area.

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National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet is Northern Europe’s largest aquarium with thousands of animals and seven million liters of water. The building’s architecture was inspired by the circulating currents of the whirlpool. From the entrance, the visitor steps into the vortex of the whirlpool – the round lobby – and is drawn inside the spiral towards the 53 aquariums and installations. The building is located directly facing the Øresund and is surrounded by a circular reflection pool. National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet is thus encircled by water on all four sides. As Northern Europe’s largest and most modern aquarium, National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet is located at a central traffic junction close to the Metro, train connections, the motorway, and Copenhagen Airport. In other words, it is difficult to overlook National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet whether you are arriving by land, water, or by air. The entire floor space of Denmark’s new aquarium, National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet on Amager, is approx. 10,000 m2. The outdoor area covers 2,000 m2 in addition to parking facilities. Architect and lead consultant for the project: 3XN A/S.

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COPENHAGEN

Spectacular and innovative in the true sense of the words. That’s Amager Bakke / Copenhill – the artificial ski slope and recreational hiking area that opened in October 2019, built on top of the new waste management centre. You can bring out your ski and snowboard and head down the slopes at Copenhill. You can bring your own equipment, or you can rent some from the local shop Steep and Deep where the experts will be ready to help you. Just like at more traditional ski sport destinations, you can of course finish your day on the slopes with afterski at Copenhill’s very own café and afterski bar. If you are not much of a skier, you can also try the hiking trail that goes all the way along Copenhill’s roof. At Copenhill, you will also find the world’s highest climbing wall of 85 meters, where certified climbers can test their skills. Combined, the playful design and the ski slope on top will be an all new way to think urban resource handling and build waste-to-energy plants that are actually welcomed by the inhabitants. ARC is one of the steps towards Copenhagen’s goal of becoming the world’s first carbon neutral capital.

Astrid Maria Rasmussen Drone Copenhill (2).00_00_00_03.Still001-2.jpg Cirkelbroen (The Circle Bridge) connects the areas around Copenhagen Harbour. In August 2015, the pedestrian bridge Cirkelbroen opened for public use. Here, it makes everyday life easier for Copenhagen’s biking commuters as it connects Copenhagen area Christiansbro and Appelbys Plads. The bridge consists of five differently sized circular platforms, each with its own mast, and it is from these circular platforms, the name of the bridge arises. Besides the obvious functional benefit of the harbour’s new architectural landmark, the beautiful design with the five masts resembles a ship by the quay as a reference to Copenhagen’s shipping history. Cirkelbroen encourages bicycles and pedestrians to reduce their speed and just take a small break, but on a larger scale, the circle refers to the circle drawn by inner city of Copenhagen, which the bridge helps to complete by connecting the Christiansbro area to Appelbys Plads. Behind the design of the bridge is world-renowned and award-winning Danish-Islandic Olafur Eliasson. During his career as an artist, he has held solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, New York and Berlin among many other places, and of course, he has made many installations, artworks and architectural design all over the world, now including Cirkelbroen.

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