Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0017/00177.txt

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$Unique_ID{bob00177}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Denmark
Contemporary Danish Architecture}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Henning Dehn Nielsen}
$Affiliation{Ministry of Foreign Affairs}
$Subject{designed
buildings
building
danish
new
housing
architects
centre
built
copenhagen
see
pictures
see
figures
}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Title:       Denmark
Book:        Facts about Denmark
Author:      Henning Dehn Nielsen
Affiliation: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Date:        1990

Contemporary Danish Architecture

     Danish architecture has always been open and receptive to outside
influence. However, since Danish architects have given international trends a
Danish interpretation, this openness has not deprived Danish buildings of
their distinctive character. At the same time, their international orientation
has secured many assignments for Danish architects abroad. Among the results
are some of the world's best known contemporary buildings.

Danish architecture abroad

     Until the Second World War, Danish architects rarely built abroad. Yet
it is worth mentioning a few well-known buildings designed by Danes in a more
distant past.

     In 1839, Athens University was built to the drawings of a Dane, Christian
Hansen, who a few years later went on to design the Marine Arsenal in Trieste.
Towards the end of the 19th century his younger brother, Theophilius Hansen
designed a number of Vienna's best known buildings, including the Parliament
on the famous boulevard, Der Ring, as well as the Academy of Arts, the Stock
Exchange and the Musikverein Concert Palais.

     The most famous of all Danish-designed structures is the Sydney Opera
House. This is a post-war work by Jorn Utzon whose design won an
international competition in 1957. Pictures of the Opera House appear in
newspapers, periodicals, films and TV programmes, tourist brochures and on
stamps all over the world. Today, it is close to being a national symbol of
Australia.

Arne Jacobsen, a pioneer

     The period when many Danish architects received commissions abroad was
initiated by Arne Jacobsen, one of the Danish pioneers of international
modernism. In the 1930s, his works at home included a theatre, a hotel and a
housing estate adjoining each other, in Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen, in
what was a Danish interpretation of the international Bauhaus style. This
beautiful environment gained international recognition only after the war
when Arne Jacobsen strengthened his fame with outstanding buildings for many
different purposes, including schools, a library, a town hall and a high-rise
hotel.

     His reputation resulted in invitations to take part in a number of
international architectural competitions in Germany. From Britain, the head
of St. Catherine's College, Oxford, came to Denmark to ask Arne Jacobsen to
design extensions for this ancient seat of learning.

The Museum of Art in Dusseldorf, opened in 1986. It was designed by the
architectural firm of Dissing & Weitling which won first prize in an
international competition. The main surfaces are covered in polished black
granite. The overhead lighting system of the galleries is constructed in such
a way to make it possible to control the effects of daylight.

     The German competitions gave Arne Jacobsen and his partner, Otto
Weitling, many important tasks. One of them was a foyer of outstanding beauty
for the Herrenhaus Concert Hall in Hannover. A much larger project drew
particular attention, that of the Town Hall of Mainz, and with that an
environment of new buildings in the centre of this historic city. Another town
area was created by the two architects in the Ruhr town of Castrop-Rauxel.
Built around a new town square, the town hall, a sports centre and a congress
hall, with their untraditional roof constructions are architecturally and
technically remarkable.

     In 1971, even before the Castrop-Rauxel scheme had been completed, Arne
Jacobsen died. Among other unfinished projects was the National Bank of
Kuwait. All were taken over and completed by Otto Weitling together with Hans
Dissing who for years had been head of Arne Jacobsen's drawing office. Later,
they formed the partnership of Dissing & Weitling which quickly gained
recognition as a talented architectural practice which has been awarded many
important commissions, in West Germany in particular. They secured the
assignment of an IBM building in Hamburg and an art museum in Dusseldorf as
winners of international competitions.

     The Art Museum of Dusseldorf, inaugurated in 1986, has gained recognition
as one of the finest in West Germany. It is both beautiful and a functional
framework for an outstanding collection of modern art.

Faculty of Physics, Freie Universitat in Dahlem, West Berlin. Architect:
Henning Larsen.

West Germany

     Yet another art museum, that of Bochum, is Danish-designed. Its
architects are the Bo & Wohlert partnership who also designed the Louisiana
Museum of Modern Art in Humlebaek north of Copenhagen. In both instances, the
buildings are extensions of an old villa. The new buildings have considerably
increased public interest in the Bochum museum.

     Since the 1950s several buildings have been designed by Danes for the
Freie Universitat in West Berlin's Dahlem district. One of the faculties is
designed by Henning Larsen, a Dane who won a 1963 competition for the project.
As a result of a number of delays, the building was not completed until the
late 1970s. A system of prefabricated elements was used but this rational
method has not prevented the architect from producing irrational effects in
a beautiful interplay between the buildings, the gardens between them and an
avenue of old plane trees.

     Another educational institution of considerable architectural value
designed by Danes, is that of Siemens' training centre in Munich which had
the firm of Friis & Moltke as architects. An urban redevelopment project for
Regensburg has been designed by Gehrdt Bornebusch. The partnership of Ronnow
& Overby have been entrusted with various environmental protection schemes in
Flensburg.

The Nordic countries

     It has been quite natural for other neighbouring countries as well to
make use of Danish architects and this is particularly true of Norway.
Competitions open to Nordic architects are frequent and they have provided
Danes with important assignments. Bergen's imposing concert hall, the
Grieghallen, was designed by Knud Munk. Erected in the 1970s, it is clad in
Corten steel sheets which rust for a while as if they were made of iron The
corrosion process then ceases and the sheets are left with a stainless, blue
black surface. In the rust-red stages, the building drew many indignant
protests. However, when the beautiful concert hall and impressive foyer were
completed indignation turned to admiration. The Grieghallen is the home of
one of Norway's best symphony orchestras and the centre of the annual
international Bergen Festival.

     Another group of buildings admired outside Norway, is the new University
of Trondheim, the old university city of the country. This project was given
to Henning Larsen who on the basis of his experiences from the Berlin
university scheme, developed a building system which makes it possible to add
new extensions any time and yet preserve the architectural unity. This is a
considerable advantage for a building project stretching over an extended
period.

     The first sections were completed in the early 1980s and demonstrate the
principle which will be applied to the entire university. The buildings are
linked by glass-roofed streets where students can meet for informal gatherings
or for celebrations, theatre performances etc. In the harsh North Norwegian
climate, these covered streets make it possible for the students to enjoy
"outdoor" life most of the year.

     Another large-scale Bergen project is a new hospital, designed by Krohn
& Hartvig Rasmussen and completed four years ago. Many Danish architects have
settled in Sweden, either to practice on their own or to work for Swedish
firms. Here, too, Danes have won international competitions. A few years ago,
Henning Larsen won one for a new university in Stockholm. Halldor Gunlogsson
and Jorn Nielsen won a competition for the design of a new parliament in the
Swedish capital. The most recent success was when Johan Fogh and Per Folner
won one of the two first prizes in a competition for a museum building to
house the world's oldest restored man-of-war, the Wasa. However, none of these
projects will be carried out.

     In Finland, too, Nordic competitions have been won by Danes. Kjoer &
Richter's proposal for a music house in Bjorneborg was awarded first prize
and plans are now being made for the erection of this multi-purpose building
in a beautiful park setting.

     A project which has attracted much attention is a plan to build an Arctic
Centre in the town of Rovaniemi in the extreme North of Finland. The Danish
partnership of Bonderup, Birch and Waade won first prize in a Nordic
competition with their very original concept for a museum and conference
centre. The museum sections will be built partly into a slope, with a high,
vaulted glass roof above ground, producing a luminous strip down the hillside
visible from afar in the dark Arctic winter.

Great Britain and the United States

     The St. Catherine's College work is the best known Danish designed
building in Britain. It is very typical of Arne Jacobsen in its functional
simplicity with excellently proportioned rooms and with great attention to
detail. A special feature are the lovely gardens which were also the work of
the versatile architect. The light and elegant chairs designed for the Dining
Hall, with seat and back pressed out of one piece, are still sold all over the
world.

     A brewery was built for Carlsberg in Northampton, in a strong and
distinct design by Knud Munk.

     Current tasks entrusted to Danes include an ambitious housing project
in London's vast Docklands conversion scheme which is creating a new district
of offices, luxurious housing and auxiliary services etc. The housing district
of Greenland Passage has been designed by the Danish firms of Kjaer & Richter
and Jorgen Stoermose.

     Danish-designed buildings are found in most other parts of the world as
well. In the United States, they include a training centre near the famous
Princeton University, designed by Friis & Moltke and opened in 1981. Since
then, this firm has produced the projects for two further training and
conference centres in the USA.

Belgium and France

     In Belgium, the Danish architect, Jorgen Bo has designed a training
centre for IBM inspired by a similar project he has produced for IBM in
Denmark.

     One of the buildings currently most talked of in Paris is a 105 metre
high administrative building in the La D*efense quarter, designed by the
Danish architect, Johan Otto von Spreckelsen. In 1982, President Mitterand
launched a competition for the best design for an international communications
centre, T;ete D*efense, situated in the Champs Elys*ee axis of the French
capital, as a kind of pendant to the old Arc de Triomphe. Von Spreckelsen won
first prize with a building formed as a triumphal arch which he called the
Triumphal Arch of Man.

The Middle East

     Danish architects have carried out several large and important projects
in the Middle East. The best known is the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Riyadh. Henning Larsen was awarded the project, having won an
international competition. Taking the climate very much into technical
consideration, the architecture was influenced by Islamic building
traditions. The representative role of the building is recognised in a number
of beautifully designed and equipped meeting and reception rooms.

     A number of other Danish-designed buildings in Saudi Arabia include a
private hospital in Riyadh and various institutions for the public health
authorities.

     In Kuwait, Jorn Utzon was the architect for a Government building
close to and overlooking the Persian Gulf. The large entrance hall makes full
use of the splendid view over the Gulf and of the chance to catch a refreshing
breeze from the sea. The style of the building is original and distinct,
making use of pre-fabricated concrete elements.

     In Iraq, Skaarup & Jespersen have produced a town plan for a whole
district of Baghdad adjoining the River Tigris. An area of old houses will be
completely replaced by three-storey town houses, to produce a new river front
for the capital. The houses will have their own solar panels to supply power
for all air conditioning.

     The new National Bank of Iraq building in Baghdad was designed by Dissing
& Weitling.

     The firm of Knud Holscher & Svend Axelsson is responsible for the design
of a museum in Bahrein.

Africa

     Countries other than the rich industrial and oil-producing nations make
use of Danish architects. Projects in developing countries are often linked
with assistance programmes in such spheres as education and health.

     In Kenya, Poul Kjoergaard & Partners designed the faculty of architecture
at the University of Nairobi and a technical college in Kisumu. This firm has
designed educational institutions in Liberia as well.

     Several Danish projects are to be found in North Africa. Among them are
an Algerian educational centre, designed by Hans Munk Hansen and Vilhelm
Wohlert and the cabinet makers' college of Monastir in Tunisia, by Bo &
Wohlert. Hans Munk Hansen, furthermore, has designed holiday hotels in Tunisia
and Malta.

Danish architecture at home

     After the Second World War, there was a great shortage of housing and
of institutional buildings in Denmark. So dire was the need for more housing
that traditional building methods no longer sufficed. There were not enough
skilled craftsmen in the building trades and the tileworks were unable to
produce bricks and roof tiles quickly enough.

     The Government, therefore, encouraged the development of industrialised
building methods. A Ministry of Housing was established and a national
building research institute opened. In granting low-interest building loans,
the Ministry favoured projects applying untraditional methods and materials.

     Some of the major contractors with experience in the use of concrete from
bridge and harbour construction etc., in cooperation with firms of consultant
engineers developed new building systems making use of pre-fabricated
concrete elements. These were so simple to use that they could be erected by
unskilled labour.

     Thorough standardisation made it possible to build large blocs of several
hundred flats with the use of relatively few different components. At the same
time, too, a basis had been produced for the building of large factories out
of concrete.

     Both pre-fabricated elements and the machinery for their production
proved competitive on the international market. This led to exports of
know-how as well as of entire pre-fabricated factory buildings.

Housing: Large-scale projects

     From the somewhat uniform building systems of the 'fifties and 'sixties,
Danish building construction technology progressed to systems permitting
greater variation in building design.

     Among many fine examples of this is an estate of blocs of flats in
Gellerupplanen in Arhus. The buildings were erected in the early 'seventies
with Knud Black-Petersen & Co. as architects.

     Another estate from the same period is the Brondby Strand south of
Copenhagen. Designed by Svend Hogsbro for a nonprofit-making building
association, it constituted a peak in the development of industrialised
construction of multi-storey blocs. The individual buildings vary greatly
both externally and in contents.

     The largest flats have 3-4 bedrooms, two bathrooms and a well-equipped
kitchen. The immediate environment, too, is of a high standard. Footpaths are
on a different level to that of the roads for motor traffic. A large deck of
raised walkways connects the individual buildings with kindergartens,
playgrounds and other common facilities.

     With the Brondby Strand estate, the era of building large-scale and
high-rise housing blocs came to an end. In 1973 the start of the oil crisis
restricted the economic activity, particularly in the house building sector.
At the same time, a rapidly growing part of the population had developed
totally different habitat ideals.

     Many now wanted to live in smaller estates where they would have a chance
to influence the details of their dwelling and its immediate surroundings.

Housing: One-family houses

     At no stage have blocs of flats accounted for more than around half of
all new house construction. One-family houses remain the traditional Danish
dwelling outside the larger city centres and their construction has never
become as industrialised as has that of blocs of flats. In the 'fifties and
'sixties so-called "type houses" or standard houses were developed which could
be built economically in large or smaller numbers. Many of their components
are factory-made but each type of house to some extent can be adapted to cater
for individual preferences. Among these houses are some of the best and most
attractive examples of Danish architecture.

Housing: The new villages

     The economic tightening of the 'seventies severely curtailed the building
of new houses. This encouraged architects to search for new forms of housing
which could be built economically and yet at the same time meet the new
consumer preferences.

     The result was a number of schemes consisting of low-rise houses built
close together in relatively small units, forming something reminiscent of
modern villages. Often, the architecture was inspired by traditional housing
but the building method was a further development of industrial techniques.
The method was in fact industrialised building, using pre-fabricated elements.

     One of the earliest examples of this new type of estate is the Gadekoeret
in Ishoj, south of Copenhagen. With their yellow facades and red roofs, the
houses are reminiscent of a traditional Danish small-town. The lay-out of the
estate is also inspired by the irregular, winding network of old small-town
streets. Pictureque little squares and a small park with a village pond
complete the image of the traditional village community. Nevertheless, the
buildings are made of pre-fabricated elements.

     Gadekaeret was built by a non-profit-making association and designed by
an architects' co-operative. It was immediately successful and was soon copied
in other parts of Denmark.

Housing: Communities

     In the 'seventies, housing communities appeared. They consisted of larger
or smaller groups of private dwellings supplemented with joint facilities such
as one or several activity rooms. These communities had many different forms
with hobby clubs, communal catering services, child-minding, meetings, social
and festive events and so on.

     One of the first such communities was that of Tinggarden which was
finished in 1978 in Herfolge south of Koge. It was designed by the
architectural firm of Vandkunsten which in the following years produced a
number of variants on the basic idea, with different extents and forms of
communal activity. One of the most recently established communities in that
of Tystrup Savvoerk, relatively small but very interesting. Situated in the
village of Tystrup about 40 kilometres from Copenhagen, it consists of 22
houses in two rows along a glass-roofed street. This street room is an
activity and meeting point for young and old. Other joint facilities include
a dining room and rooms providing for a wide variety of activities This form
of housing and lifestyle is extremely popular among young families with
children.

Housing: Flexibility

     Though the current preference seems to be for low-rise, low-density
housing and one-family houses with gardens, new blocs of flats are still being
built. They are particularly important in connection with the redevelopment of
old town quarters and in central sections of new urban areas. Entirely new
types of blocs are being developed. The Ministry of Housing in cooperation
with selected architects, civil engineers and contractors, have set these
plans in motion and very quickly new ideas for flexible blocs have been
produced which can be adapted to various existing housing environments. These
new types of buildings are extremely well suited for exports because they can
be adapted to alien housing cultures.

     An outstanding example of such flexible blocs of flats is that of
Solbjerg Have in Copenhagen Designed by the firm of Foellestegnestuen, it was
built before the Ministry set the new development work in motion but the same
principles of flexibility have been applied. The estate offers a very wide
variety of flats, from large family dwellings to flats for the young and for
the elderly and the physically handicapped. There are day centres for
pensioners, kindergartens and day nurseries.

Public buildings: Education

     The economic boom of the 'sixties led to strong growth in the educational
and public health services and with that, to the extensive construction of new
schools, universities and hospitals. The typical Danish primary school is
relatively large, with around 1,000 pupils. New principles for the design of
school buildings were developed by educationalists and architects in
cooperation. One principle frequently applied is that of dividing a large
school into small units, with low buildings grouped around gardens and
playgrounds.

     Senior schools preparing the pupils for the highest Danish school
certificate are often designed to provide a good leisure environment for the
students as well as the educational facilities. The class rooms are placed in
small groups which are again built around a central hall with canteen,
library, meeting rooms etc. These halls are often very attractively designed
and meant to encourage joint activities, lectures, concerts, plays or parties
of different kinds. Schools of this character, though differing greatly in
detail, were built in considerable numbers all over the country during the
'seventies and 'eighties.

     Two of the senior schools deserve particular attention. One is the
Frederiksvoerk Amtsgymnasium in North Sjaelland, designed by Kjaer & Richter.
The other is the Amtsgymnasium in Hoje Tastrup near Copenhagen, designed by
Henning Larsen. Both schools have central facilities as described but
architecturally they are very different.

     The educational "explosion" also necessitated the extension of the old
universities in Copenhagen and Arhus and the establishment of new
universities in Odense, Aalborg and Roskilde.

     These new universities have taken account of new principles for higher
education. They are university centres where it is possible for students to
combine the traditional subjects in new ways and with subjects other than
those studied in the past. This flexible structuring is reflected in the
buildings which can be equipped and extended as required.

     The Aalborg University Centre is designed as an urban district with low
buildings, streets and squares integrated into a new Alborg suburb. When
completed, there will be no sharp division between the university and the
low-rise housing around with its public institutions and service centre. Both
university and housing area have been planned so as to permit future
extension.

     Another important field is that of adult education, including further
education, re-training, seminars and congresses. A large number of training
centres have been built all over Denmark, among others by trade unions and
employers' unions. One of the largest and most attractive is the LO-skolen
the School of the Federation of Trade Unions near Helsingor (Elsinore).
Designed by Jarl Heger, Karen and Ebbe Clemmensen, the school has been
extended several times since it was established in 1967. The students' rooms
are of hotel standard, in two-storey wings around the central school buildings
with their many classrooms and meeting rooms and halls. In the centre is a
large and beautiful garden.

Public buildings: Hospitals

     In the 'sixties when most of Denmark's new hospitals were planned, two
different basic principles were tested in projects in the Copenhagen area.
Copenhagen Municipality built a large hospital in Hvidovre with the different
clinics and wards in low-rise buildings. The project was chosen after an
architectural competition and the basic idea was to allow horisontal traffic
and easy access from the wards to the gardens outside.

     About the same time, Copenhagen County built a hospital of similar size
in Herlev. Here, the clinics were placed in a low, 3-storey building with the
wards in a high-rise building of 24 floors. This hospital is architecturally
distinctive, enhanced by separate auditorium buildings of original design. In
the event, the high-rise principle was used in most new provincial hospitals.

Public buildings: Cultural centres

     Buildings for cultural purposes often offer scope for interesting
architectural solutions. The cultural institution with the widest consumer
appeal is the library. Apart from small local libraries, every borough in
Denmark has a central library, often a veritable cultural centre with
exhibition and lecture halls etc. in some, and facilities for the public to
borrow paintings, organised childrens' activities in others, in addition to
the more usual reading rooms and book,
record and tape lending sections.

     In the Jutland town of Holstebro, the library forms a part of a centre
which also houses the Town Hall. It was designed by Dall & Lindhartsen who
were also the architects for the Citizens' House in Aalborg. Besides the
library facilities, the centre has various meeting rooms, including that of
the Town Council and a caf*e as well.

     Two of the main provincial cities, Arhus and Odense, have built new
concert halls. Both are designed for the use for modern and classic plays and
musicals as well as for all kinds of concerts. The Musikhus of Arhus is the
larger of the two and designed by Kjaer & Richter. The main hall has a stage
and everything required for theatre purposes so that operas and musicals can
be staged as well as concerts. A smaller hall is for chamber music
performances and similar events. The large vestibule was an all-glass frontage
facing a park outside and is open during the day to allow access to the
theatre cafe which has quickly become a popular meeting place outside theatre
and concert hours. Here, too, smaller musical events are held.

     A number of museums of art have been built in different parts of Denmark.
Louisiana, of international standard and fame, specialises in modern art and
is beautifully set in a park by the Sound north of Copenhagen. It was founded
by Knud W. Jensen, a patron of arts who purchased a country villa to house a
small collection of Danish art. Today, that house has become the centre and
reception area for a large museum with a permanent collection as well as space
for visiting exhibitions of outstanding modern art, housed in extensive wings
designed by Bo & Wohlert.

     Aalborg Museum of Modern Art is also widely recognised. The beautiful
and unusual building is designed by the Danish architect, Jean-Jacques Baruel
and the world-famous Finns, Elissa and Alvar Aalto.

     Sports, included in the cultural sphere, has been given better
conditions. Every Danish town, large or small, has a sports centre, often with
facilities for meetings and musical and theatrical events as well. Many
include an indoor swimming pool. One of the most attractive is that of
Kildeskovhallen in Gentofte north of Copenhagen, designed by Karen and Ebbe
Clemmensen.

Arne Jacobsen, 1902-1971. Educated at the School of Architecture at the Royal
Academy of Arts in Copenhagen. A.J. was one of the pioneers of Danish
modernism, inspired by the Bauhaus school in particular. Some of his buildings
from the 'thirties, in Klampenborg north of Copenhagen, have already been
placed under preservation orders. A.J. was an outstanding industrial designer
as well. His furniture, lamps, cutlery and textiles are still being produced
and sold all over the world.

Jorn Utzon, b. 1918. Educated at the School of Architecture at the Royal
Academy of Arts. In the fifties and 'sixties, J.U. introduced new types of
one-family houses and terraced houses in Denmark. His main work is the Sydney
Opera House, built in the 'sixties. Among his Danish buildings, the Parish
Church of Bagsvoerd, north of Copenhagen, has gained international fame.
Recent work includes a project for a large congress centre and hotel on
Copenhagen's waterfront.

Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, 1929-1987. Educated at the School of Architecture
at the Royal Academy of Arts, where he was a professor from 1978 until his
death in 1987. S. designed a number of unique churches. Until he won the
international competition for the communications centre of T;ete D*efense in
Paris, his other major works were in the field of education.

Architectural standards

     All examples of Danish architecture at home and abroad mentioned here
are of high architectural standard. Needless to say, not all contemporary
buildings are on an equally high level. Many are almost anonymous in
character. However, Denmark's architectural standard is generally considered
to be relatively high, probably due to the fact that Denmark has more
qualified architects than any other country, comparatively speaking. More
buildings are constructed with the assistance of architects who normally
design everything down to the smallest detail.

     There are two Danish architectural schools, one in Copenhagen and the
other in Arhus. The largest and oldest is the School of Architecture of the
Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen, founded in the middle of the 18th
century.

     Normally, the study of architecture takes 5-6 years. The education of the
two schools follow the same principles, with as much emphasis on artistic
skills as on technical. Denmark has a strong tradition of close co-operation
between architect and building engineer, whether the building is large or
small.

     In all likelihood, the comparatively large number of architects in
Denmark contributes to the wide scope of activities pursued by the profession.
Design and construction of buildings constitute the main field of activity but
they are far from being the only ones. Many architects design furniture which
is exported all over the world. Others have made their mark in industrial
design or in town planning and landscaping. The aim of an architect's work is
to contribute to a better physical and visual environment, in co-operation
with other trades, skills and professions.