BIG

Frederiksborgvej 73 housing . Copenhagen

BIG

The original Kommuneplan for Frederiksborgvej 73 called for the completion of the two perimeter blocks and emphasized the creation of a pedestrian passageway.
This made for a mundane set of spaces and would have cut the shared green space in the courtyard in half. Later proposals for housing attempted to turn the large green space into a more intimate set of spaces, by breaking up the large courtyard. However, the current residents demanded a scheme with a clearer sequence of public spaces and a development that would not block the sun from their apartments.
BIG’s proposal mitigates the desires of current residents, the development potential of the area, and the need for public space. The new housing development was conceived as a porous wall along the south side of the existing green space. By pulling apart the overall volume of the wall, creating modules of housing, its scale is reduced and a clear division of public space, in the void areas, and private living, in the modules, is achieved.
By bending the wall slightly in the centre, a south facing plaza is created at the street level and the public path through the courtyard is condensed. Finally, by removing the module at ground level in the bend an inspiring threshold between the plaza and courtyard is created, enabling the continuation of the pedestrian path and the creation of a clubhouse for the residents.

partner in charge
David Zahle
project leader
Cat Huang
team
Terrence Chew . Nigel Jooren . Miguel Pereira . Ewelina Moszczynska . Robinson Neuville . Lucas Torres Aguero . Claudio Moretti . Karl Johan Nyqvist . Krista Meskanen . Maciej Zawadzki