Krøyers Plads
Krøyers Plads is a significant and visually exposed location along the waterfront of the historical Christianshavn, Copenhagen. The site, centrally located across the water from Nyhavn, constitutes today a gap in the continuous row of old warehouses, oriented perpendicular to the Copenhagen harbor. The building plot is very emotionally charged and several projects has been cancelled due to local citizen opposition and an alleged lack of "sense of place". Therefore the new Krøyers Plads is based on a hyper-democratic and -contextual approach. Through a thorough, intense process of citizen involvement and dialog with the municipality, a design for three new buildings, with a strong relation to the surrounding environment, has taken its shape.
To achieve a project that is rooted in the site, the architecture of the buildings is a modern interpretation of the historic warehouses that characterize the area around Krøyers Plads today. The configuration and location on Krøyers Plads maintain the strong visual connection between Strandgade and the harbor, and the new warehouses will fit in the area, and seem as a natural continuation of the buildings along the harbor. Folding roofs and architectural heaviness are important design themes that create a dialogue between old and new, and creates at the same time a modern and empathetic interpretation of the architectural uniqueness of the warehouses.
The project consists of a mix of offices, shops and housing, which will create a varied use and activity in the area throughout the day. An open and active ground floor with extroverted functions, such as shops and restaurants, will ensure a place with a lively and public atmosphere. The housing program is grouped in one building that is oriented towards the basin with an open glass facade that exploits the location overlooking the water.
