The last few years have witness an increasing interest in Danish design from the 20th century. This renaissance is founded on the work of several great names, including Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner, Kaare Klint and Poul Henningsen.
The designs of these icons are very much back in style, featured extensively by trendsetting publications like Wallpaper, Dazed and Confused and Vogue. Jacobsen’s Egg, Ant and Swan chairs, for instance, along with Henningsen’s lamp shades can still be seen sprawled all across hip, bustling cafes and retro-style bars in Copenhagen, London and New York. Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus and Stereo Bar in Copenhagen are prime examples.
But Arne Jacobsen is not the only internationally renowned Danish architect who retains a presence in Copenhagen. Jørn Utzon, designer of the world-famous Sydney Opera House, also laid out the groundwork for the Paustian furniture store in the dock area.
The city of Copenhagen has also been more daring than in former times, and has employed several internationally renowned architects to redesign several of the city’s spaces. After many years of living in the shadows of the aforementioned masters, Copenhagen has seen a boom in contemporary architecture, with a small but acclaimed group of younger architectural agencies leading the way, not content with playing second fiddle to the hallmarks of the icons of yesteryear.
DAC
Dansk Arkitektur Center
The national dissemination center for architecture and construction. Come here for exhibitions on anything related to Copenhagen’s architecture. DAC also plays host to an extensive and excellent bookshop.
Dansk Jødisk Museum
The plight of a people
Though smaller in size than its more famous sister museum in Berlin, the Danish Jewish Museum is nonetheless worth a visit with the slanting walls and figurative expression of its interior. Designed by Daniel Libeskind—the king of Jewish museums—the museum offers much more of an embodying experience than a study of a culture and its plight.
Copenhagen Opera House
Brightly lit
Designed by architect Henning Larsen, the Copenhagen Opera House was severely criticized after its conception, primarily because of changes in its initial design—like the less open and inviting entrance than what was originally planned. The end result is nevertheless quite impressive, especially at night when Olafur Eliasson’s three round light sculptures light up the lobby. Looking suspiciously alike to the flag and symbol of left-wing hippie free haven Christiania, one wonders if the artist was deliberately having a stab at the billionaire benefactors and future guests of the Opera House.
Royal Library
The Black Diamond
Nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2000, the Royal Library is popularly called The Black Diamond because of its dark slanting glass facade that leans over the water in the harbor.
Copenhagen Harbour Bath
Don't get cold feet
Walk across Langebro on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the summer, you’ll see a very peculiar sight: people actually take dips in the harbor. The Harbor bath was designed by PLOT, one of Copenhagen’s younger architectural firms that is now defunct and has split into JDS and BIG Architects.
VM Bjerget
Stacked like Lego
Conceived of by young and forward thinking Danish architectural firm, BIG, VM Bjerget is a novel way to think about housing. With its many levels, balconies and rooftop gardens, the building is closely situated to the new urban city area, Ørestad, which is being built under the supervising guidance of world renown architect Daniel Liebekind.
Nimb Hotel
Trust us, it´s a classic
An old-school legend has received a well deserved make over when the Grønlykke family—well known in Denmark for owning several of the country’s most respected restaurants—took charge in 2006. Giving the old faux Arabian building a thoughtful (and thorough) architectural face lift, Nimb now houses one of Europe’s most luxurious hotels, with only 13 rooms, and several top quality restaurants.
Radisson SAS Royal Hotel
Don't judge a book by its cover
An Arne Jacobsen landmark, the 20-story building was Copenhagen’s first skyscraper.
Paustian
A modern design fetishist's haven
Ruckstuhl, Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames are but a few of the hidden gems inside the store.
Korsgadehallen
Creativity over crime
An architectural work out. Built in a troubled neighborhood of Korsgadehallen, the building nevertheless dishes up some refreshing architectural ideas on the rehabilitation of public spaces.
Ordrupgaard
A mansion filled with masters
Originally built in 1916, Ordrupgaard was expanded in 2005. Groundbreaking London-based architect Zaha Hadid was the architect behind this, making the museum one of the few places that the architect’s highly theoretical and influencing work has been realized, as her plans, while greatly esteemed, are rarely brought to life.
Saxo Bank International Headquarters
The golden touch
Designed by 3XN Arkitekter, the building is an expressive and dynamic piece of architecture with slanting diagonals and glass surfaces over-laced by harlequin shaped patterns on the exterior.
About
Unlike likes pretty buildings.
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