Trollbeads House in Copenhagen, Denmark by BBP Arkitekter

Article source: BBP Arkitekter

BBP Arkitekter have converted an office building dating from 1964 in the center of Copenhagen into the new headquarters for the danish jewellery firm Trollbeads, who are known for their glass and gold beads.

It is a high security building, organised like the old Venetian merchant houses with goods loaded safely at the ground floor, stock and offices above, and, at the highest level, a residence for the owner with a roof terrace.

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

• Architects: BBP Arkitekter
• Project: Trollbeads House
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Photography: BBP Arkitekter, Jens Lindhe and Kjeld Madsen
• Architect in charge: Ebbe Wæhrens – Partner
• Design team: Lars Rex Christensen, Kathrine Brauer
• Project engineer: Sigurd Østergaard Andersen
• Contractor: Kai Andersen A/S

Image Courtesy © Jens Lindhe

The challenge was to make a building which respects its type as a curtain wall building, while at the same time relating to the historic houses on either side. How do you combine a modern glass house with a 18th century townhouse?

The original curtain wall was removed, the existing concrete structure stripped and extended 2.5 m toward the street, and a new skin of glass and brass covers the facade, the roof and a small courtyard at the back.

Image Courtesy © Kjeld Madsen

The building consists of two party walls which have been raised and reshaped so as to follow the line of the neighbouring mansard roof. As is typical for visible party walls in the city, the exposed wall has a different logic than the facade, with small, round windows placed in a random pattern.

Between the two rounded party walls, a skin of glass is stretched to cover the roof and facade. On the outside a brass curtain is hung, making a kind of inverted curtain wall.

Image Courtesy © Kjeld Madsen

The brass curtain has three functions:

• Every morning half of the curtain opens, so the building emulates the historic houses next to it, with repeating windows in a massive wall.
• After working hours the curtain closes automatically, and the building is transformed into a burglar-proof vault.
• After dark a dim light turns on inside, revealing a modern glass house behind a veil of translucent brass.

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

The building’s windows are fixed, but behind each of the “masonry” pillars there is a glass door which can be opened for ventilation.

The typical 1960s office building has been transformed into a golden jewellery box which becomes a glass chest at night.

Image Courtesy © Jens Lindhe

Cornices

The brass curtain is lifted permanently at the entrance, forming a canopy which aligns with the lowest cornice on the grey house next door.

At the third floor the brass curtain is folded down, in line with the roof cornice of the yellow house.

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Hinges

When the curtain is closed, the only visible difference between its fixed and movable parts is the hinge.

Pattern

The pattern which is carved into the brass curtain takes inspiration from a hedge of thorns guarding a treasure, and was developed by textile designer Lene Toni Kjeld together with architect Ebbe Wæhrens.

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Image Courtesy © BBP Arkitekter

Tags: Copenhagen, Denmark

Category: Headquarters

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2014 at 3:51 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.