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Thearchitecture of Denmark has its origins in theViking Age, revealed by archaeological finds. It was established in theMiddle Ages when firstRomanesque, thenGothic churches and cathedrals, were built throughout the country. During this period, brick became the construction material of choice for churches, fortifications and castles, as the country had little access to stone.
Under the influence ofFrederick II andChristian IV, both of whom had been inspired by thecastles of France, Dutch and Flemish designers were brought to Denmark to improve the country's fortifications. They increasingly transitioned to building magnificent royal castles and palaces in theRenaissance style. In parallel, the half-timbered style became popular for ordinary dwellings in towns and villages across the country.
Late in his reign, Christian IV also became an early proponent ofBaroque which was to continue for a considerable time with many impressive buildings both in the capital and the provinces.Neoclassicism came initially from France but was slowly adopted by native Danish architects who increasingly participated in defining architectural style. A productive period ofHistoricism merged into the 19th centuryNational Romantic style.
In the 1960s, Danish architects entered the world scene with their highly successfulFunctionalism. This evolved into designs such as theSydney Opera House and theGreat Belt Bridge, allowing Danish designers to be rewarded for excellence both at home and abroad.
Archaeological excavations in various parts ofDenmark have revealed much about the way theVikings lived. One such site isHedeby, located 45 km (28 mi) south of the Danish border nearSchleswig, it probably dates back to the end of the 8th century. Oakframes were used for the walls, and the roofs were probablythatched.[1]
Viking ring houses, such as those atTrelleborg, have a ship-like shape with long walls bulging outwards. Each house had a large central hall, 18 m × 8 m (59 ft × 26 ft), and two smaller rooms, one at each end. Those atFyrkat (c. 980), in the north ofJutland, were 28.5 m (94 ft) long, 5 m (16 ft) wide at the ends and 7.5 m (25 ft) in the middle, the long walls curving slightly outwards. The walls had double rows of posts with planks wedged horizontally between them. A series of outer posts slanted towards the wall were possibly used to support the building like buttresses.[2]
Denmark's first churches from the 9th century were built of timber and have not survived. Hundreds of stone churches in theRomanesque style were built in the 12th and 13th centuries. They had a flat-ceilingednave andchancel with small rounded windows and round arches. Granite boulders and limestone were initially the preferred building materials, but after brick production reached Denmark in the middle of the 12th century, brick quickly became the material of choice.[3] Notable examples ofbrick Romanesque buildings areSt. Bendt's Church inRingsted (c. 1170)[4] and the uniqueChurch of Our Lady inKalundborg (c. 1200) with its five tall towers.[5]
Thechurch at Østerlars on the island ofBornholm was built around 1150. Like three other churches on the island, it is around church. The three-storeyed building is supported by a circular outer wall and an exceptionally wide, hollow central column.[6]
Construction ofLund Cathedral inScania started in about 1103 when the region was part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It was the first of great Danish Romanesque cathedrals in the shape of a three-aisled basilica with transepts. It seems to have been related to earlier German buildings, though there are also traces ofAnglo-Norman andLombard influences.[7]Ribe, which followed with its great cathedral (1150–1250), had close trade contacts with theRhine region of Germany. Both the materials, sandstone andtufa, and the models were taken from there.[8]
Towards the end of the 13th century, and until about 1500, theGothic style became the norm. This resulted in rebuilding or adopting older, Romanesque churches to the Gothic style: the flat ceilings were replaced by high cross vaults, windows were enlarged with pointed arches, chapels and towers were added, and the interiors were decorated with murals.[9] Red brick was the material of choice as seen inSt. Canute's Cathedral,Odense (1300–1499), andSt. Peter's Church, Næstved. St. Canute's presents all the features of Gothic architecture: pointed arch, buttresses,ribbed vaulting, increased light and the spatial combination of nave and chancel.[10][11]
Most Gothic architecture in Denmark is found in churches and monasteries, though there are also examples in the secular field.Glimmingehus (1499–1506), a rectangular castle in Scania, was commissioned by the Danish nobleman Jens Holgersen Ulfstand who hiredAdam van Düren, a North German master who also worked onLund Cathedral. The building contains many defensive features of the times, including parapets, false doors, dead-end corridors, murder-holes for pouring boiling pitch over the attackers, moats, drawbridges and various other death traps to protect the nobles against peasant uprisings.[12]
During the late Middle Ages, a slow transition began from the traditional wooden houses in towns and villages towardshalf-timbered properties. One of the oldest in Denmark isAnne Hvides Gård, a two-storeyed townhouse inSvendborg on the island ofFunen, constructed in 1560.[13] The building now forms part of the Svendborg Museum.[14]
Ystad in the southern Swedish region ofScania, which was formerly part of Denmark, still has some 300 half-timbered houses, several of them of historic importance.[15] The oldest surviving half-timbered house in Denmark, built in 1527, is located inKøge on the east coast ofSealand.[16]
The Old Town inAarhus, Jutland, is an open-air village museum consisting of 75 historical buildings collected from all parts of the country. They include a variety of half-timbered houses, some dating back to the middle of the 16th century.[17]
Renaissance architecture thrived during the reigns ofFrederick II and especiallyChristian IV. Inspired by theFrench castles of the times, Flemish architects designedKronborg Castle inHelsingør andFrederiksborg Palace inHillerød. In Copenhagen,Rosenborg Castle (1606–24) andBørsen or the former stock exchange (1640) are recognized as important Renaissance buildings.[18]
During the reign ofFrederick II, Kronborg Castle was designed by two Flemish architects:Hans Hendrik van Paesschen who started the work in 1574, andAnthonis van Obbergen who finished it in 1585. Modelled on a three-winged French castle, it was completed as a full four-winged building. The castle burnt down in 1629 but, under orders from Christian IV, was quickly rebuilt under the leadership ofHans van Steenwinckel the Younger, son of the famous Flemish artist. It is recognized as an outstanding Renaissance castle and is a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[19]
Frederiksborg Palace (1602–20) in Hillerød is the largest Renaissance palace inScandinavia. Christian IV had most of Frederick II's original building pulled down to have van Steenwinckel complete a three-winged French-styled castle with a low terrace wing around a courtyard. The architectural expression and the decorative finish reflectDutch Renaissance preferences, as evidenced by the ornamental portals and windows and especially in sweeping Italianate gables.[8]
Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, also built by Christian IV, is another example of the Dutch Renaissance style. In 1606, the king first had a two-storey summerhouse built on a site he used as a park for relaxation. He then decided to start work on the castle, which developed in stages until theDutch Renaissance building was completed in 1624. Predating the castle, the Renaissance-style park is Denmark's oldest royal garden.[20]
Sponsored by Christian IV, Børsen was built from 1618 to 1624 as one of the first commodity exchanges in Europe. It was designed to emphasize Copenhagen's position as a commercial metropolis. Although inspired by the Dutch Renaissance style, the towers and garrets on the roof reflect the taste of Christian IV. The spire of the building, with four intertwined dragon tails topped by three crowns, symbolises the then Kingdom of Denmark, which includedNorway andSweden.[21]
In 1614, Christian IV began work on the construction of the then DanishKristianstad in Scania, now in the south of Sweden, completing many of its buildings in the Renaissance style. TheChurch of the Trinity (1618–28) designed by Flemish-Danish architectLorenz van Steenwinckel is considered by many to be Scandinavia's most beautiful Renaissance church.[22][23]
Christian IV also initiated a number of projects in Norway that were largely based on Renaissance architecture[24][page needed] He established mining operations inKongsberg andRøros, now a World Heritage Site. After a devastating fire in 1624, the town ofOslo was moved to a new location and rebuilt as a fortified city with anorthogonal layout surrounded by ramparts, and renamedChristiania. King Christian also founded the trading city ofKristiansand, once again naming it after himself.[25]
Holbæk in northwesternSealand began to develop towards the end of the Middle Ages. Prosperity peaked in the 17th century as corn grown locally was traded with Germany and the Netherlands. The half-timbered houses which now form the museum date back to that period, providing an insight into how the town functioned at the time.[26]
Danish countryvicarages from this period tended to be built in the same style as farmhouses, though usually rather larger. A fine example is Kølstrup Vicarage nearKerteminde in north-eastern Funen. The house itself is a thatched half-timbered building with a large rectangular courtyard flanked by outhouses.[27]
As during the Renaissance period, it was again principally Dutch influence which predominated in Baroque architecture, although many of the features originated in Italy and France. Symmetry and regularity were primary concerns, often enhanced by a projecting central section on the main façade.[28][29]
Copenhagen'sRound Tower was also one of Christian IV's projects after he provided funding for an observatory as proposed by the astronomerTycho Brahe. Under the initial leadership ofHans van Steenwinckel who surprisingly adapted the design to Dutch Baroque, the Tower was completed in 1642 with a height of almost 40 m. The bricks, specially ordered from the Netherlands, were of a hard-burned, slender type, known asmuffer ormopper.[30] A 210-meter-long spiral ramp leads to the top, providing panoramic views over Copenhagen. The Round Tower is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. Until 1861 it was used by the University of Copenhagen, but today, anyone can observe the night sky through the tower's astronomical telescope during the winter.[31]
Nysø Manor (1673) nearPræstø, Sealand, was built for the local functionary Jens Lauridsen. It was the first Baroque country house in Denmark, replacing the earlier Renaissance style. The inspiration came from Holland and the architect was probablyEwert Janssen.[32]
One of the foremost designers of the times was the Danish architectLambert van Haven whose masterpiece was theChurch of Our Saviour, Copenhagen (1682–96) which relies on the Greek cross for its basic layout. The façade is segmented by Tuscan pilasters extending up to the full height of the building. Other features such as the distinctive corkscrew spire were however not undertaken until the reign ofFrederick V. It wasLauritz de Thurah who finally completed the building in 1752.[33]
Charlottenborg (1672–83), onKongens Nytorv in the centre of Copenhagen, is said to be the most important pure Baroque building remaining in Denmark. Van Haven may have been involved in its design althoughEwert Janssen is usually credited with the work. Several other mansion houses in Denmark have been based on its design.[34]
It wasHenrik Ruse, a Dutch building engineer, who was charged byFrederick III to develop the area aroundKongens Nytorv, especially in connection with theNyhavn Canal which was designed to become Copenhagen's new harbour. It was not, however, untilChristian V became king in 1670 that Niels Rosenkrantz completed the work. Over the next few years, numerous town houses were built along the northern or sunny side of the canal. The oldest, Number 9, was completed in 1681, probably by Christen Christensen, the harbour master.[35]
Clausholm Castle (1693–94) nearRanders was designed by the Danish architect Ernst Brandenburger with assistance of the SwedeNicodemus Tessin who was invited to decorate the facade.[36][37]
Thefirst Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, designed byElias David Häusser and completed in the 1740s, was certainly one of the most impressive Baroque buildings of its day. Although the palace itself was destroyed by fire in 1794, the extensive showgrounds and riding arena completed by Niels Eigtved have survived undamaged and can be visited today.[38]Fredensborg Palace (1731), the royal residence on the shore ofSealand's Lake Esrum, with its exquisite Chancellery House, is the work of Johan Cornelius Krieger who was the court gardener at Rosenborg Castle.[39] The park at Fredensborg is one of Denmark's largest and best preserved Baroque gardens.[40]
After the turn of the 18th century, architecture developed into the late Baroque style. Among the major proponents wereJohan Conrad Ernst who built the Chancery Building[41] orKancellibygningen (1721) onSlotsholmen andLauritz de Thurah who designed theEremitage Palace (1734) in Dyrehaven, just north of Copenhagen. Even more ambitious was de Thurah's work atLedreborg nearRoskilde, where he succeeded in working the components into a well-balanced and cohesive Baroque palace.[42]
Following on closely from the Baroque period,Rococo came into fashion in the 1740s under the leadership ofNicolai Eigtved. Originally a gardener, Eigtved spent many years abroad where he became increasingly interested in architecture, especially the French Rococo style.[43] On his return to Denmark, he built Prinsens Palæ (1743–44) in Copenhagen as a residence for Crown Prince Frederick (laterFrederick V). It is now theNational Museum.[44]
Soon afterwards, he was given prestige assignments including the overall architectural design for theFrederiksstaden district of Copenhagen 1749, planned around the strictly octagonal square containing the four Amalienborg Palaces and considered to be one of Europe's most important Rococo complexes.Adam Gottlob Moltke who, as Frederick V'soverhofmarskal or lord chamberlain, was in charge of the project gave Eigtved a free hand, not only to design the principal buildings but also to provide the area with straight broad streets and the mansions which lined them.[45] Frederick V had wanted to emulate the grand building achievements of the French monarchs. Not surprisingly, therefore, the palace square is inspired by thePlace de la Concorde in Paris from the same period.[46] Although Eigtved died before the work was completed, other architects including Lauritz de Thurah faithfully continued to execute his plans. Perhaps the finest outcomes are the Amalienborg Palace complex,Frederik's Church in its immediate vicinity andFrederiks Hospital.[47]
Philip de Lange, although influenced by Eigtved, developed his own rather strict style during this period. His ornamental facade can be seen on the Kunstforeningen building (1750) on Gammel Strand in Copenhagen. The top storey with a gable was added later.[48] De Lange also designed the small but well proportionedDamsholte Church on Møn, the only Rococo village church in Denmark.[49]
Neoclassicism which relied on inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome, was brought to Denmark by the French architectNicolas-Henri Jardin. His countryman, the sculptorJacques Saly, who was already well established in Denmark, persuaded Frederick V that Jardin could complete Frederik's Church after Eigtved's death. Although Jardin did not succeed in this, he was successful in designing several prestige Neoclassical buildings such asBernstorff Palace (1759–65) inGentofte andMarienlyst Palace near Helsingør.[50][51]
One of Jardin's pupils,Caspar Frederik Harsdorff, turned out to be Denmark's most prominent 18th-century architect and is known as the Father of Danish Classicism. He undertook a considerable amount of redesign work, both for interiors and exteriors, including work on theRoyal Theatre (1774) where he introduced a classical temple style with a wide entrance and large hall. He also carried out work on theAmalienborg complex including the colonnade, with its eight Ionic wooden columns, linking the crown prince's residence (Schacks Palæ) with the king's (Moltkes Palæ).[52][53]
Another remarkable example of neoclassicism isLiselund on the island ofMøn in south-eastern Denmark. This rather small country home built in the FrenchNeoclassical style in the 1790s is exceptional in that it has a thatched roof. Like the surrounding Romantic park, the house was the work ofAndreas Kirkerup, one of the foremost landscape architects of the times. It was designed as a summer retreat forAntoine de la Calmette, the island's governor, and his wife, Lise.[54] The building is T-shaped with the main rooms on the ground floor, the first floor consisting of nine bedrooms. The interior was probably decorated by the leading decorator of the day,Joseph Christian Lillie.[55]
After Hardorff's death, the main proponent of Classicism wasChristian Frederik Hansen who developed a more severe style with clean, simple forms and large, unbroken surfaces. From 1800, he was in charge of all major building projects in Copenhagen where he designed theCopenhagen City Hall & Courthouse (1805–15) onNytorv. He was also responsible for rebuildingChurch of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke) and designing the surrounding square (1811–29).[56]
In 1800, Hansen was also charged with rebuilding Christiansborg Palace which had burnt down in 1794. Unfortunately, it burnt down once again in 1884. All that remains is the magnificent chapel which, with its Ionic columns, conveys a sense of antiquity.[57]
Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll is remembered above all for designingThorvaldsens Museum. In 1822, as a young man, he had experiencedKarl Friedrich Schinkel's classicism in Germany and France and had met the German-born architect and archaeologist Franz Gau who introduced him to the colourful architecture of antiquity. His uncle, Jonas Collin, who was an active art and culture official underFrederick VI, awakened the King's interest in a museum forBertel Thorvaldsen, the Danish-Icelandic sculptor, and asked Bindesbøll to make some sketches for the building. As Bindensbøll's designs stood out from those of other architects, he was given a commission to transform the Royal Carriage Depot and Theatre Scenery Painting Building into a museum. Emulating the construction of theErechtheion and theParthenon as freestanding buildings released from the traditional urban plan of closed streets, he completed the work in 1848.[58] He also incorporated aspects of ancientEgyptian architecture into his design, though "the plan as a whole... is neither Egyptian nor Greek, but Bindesbøll's own".[59]
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)With the arrival ofHistoricism in the second half of the century, special importance was attached to high standards of craftsmanship and proper use of materials.[60] This can be seen in Copenhagen'sUniversity Library (1861) designed byJohan Daniel Herholdt and inspired by St Fermo's Church inVerona.[61]
Vilhelm Dahlerup was one of the most productive 19th-century architects. Perhaps more than anyone else, he contributed to the way Copenhagen appears today.[62] His most important buildings include Copenhagen'sHotel D’Angleterre (1875) and theDanish National Gallery (1891). With the support of the Carlsberg company, he designed theNy Carlsberg Glyptoteque (1897) and a number of lavishly decorated buildings at theCarlsberg Brewery site, now under redevelopment as a new district in Copenhagen.[63]
Ferdinand Meldahl, also a proponent of Historicism, completed the reconstruction ofFrederiksborg Palace after the fire in 1859 and designed theParliament Building inReykjavík, Iceland, at that time a Danish colony. His greatest achievement was, however, the completion ofFrederik's Church in Copenhagen. The site had become a ruin after work was stopped on Jardin's original design in 1770. Meldahl's plans differed significantly from Jardin's in that the lateral towers were eliminated, the dome was lower and the columns were reduced from six to four before the main entrance. Nevertheless, the overall height almost matched Jardin's, thanks to the lantern and the taller spire. The building, commonly known as the Marble Church, was completed in 1894, more than 150 years after Eigtved had drawn up his original plans.[64]
Martin Nyrop was one of the main proponents of theNational Romantic style. The main aim was to use distinctiveNordic motifs from the distant past, as is clearly demonstrated inCopenhagen City Hall which was completed in 1905. The City Hall is certainly Copenhagen's most monumental and most original building from the last quarter of the 19th century with its impressive facade, the golden statue ofAbsalon just above the balcony and its tall, slim clock tower. It was inspired by theSiena City Hall.[65]
Another participant in the National Romanticism movement wasHack Kampmann who designed theAarhus Theatre in theArt Nouveau style at the very end of the century.[66]
The harbour town ofSvendborg in the south east of Funen dates back to the 13th century. Real prosperity emerged in the 19th century when shipbuilding and trade became important drivers. The town subsequently underwent a period of renovation with new brick and stone buildings lining its narrow streets. The old town has now become an important tourist attraction.[67]
The fine architectural style ofSkagen on the northern tip of Jutland is quite distinctive. From the 19th century on, the houses were whitewashed and had red-tiled roofs. Yellow and red tones dominated, backed by white chimneys and roof decorations. These traditions are not only to be found in the town's old districts but are maintained in the newer residential areas. Several of the town's more imposing buildings from the beginning of the 20th century were designed by theUlrik Plesner, others were designed by well-known architects such asThorvald Bindesbøll.[68]
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{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Neoclassicism or increasinglyNordic Classicism continued to thrive at the beginning of the century until about 1930 as can be seen inKay Fisker's Hornbækhus apartment buildings (1923) andHack Kampmann's police headquarters (1924). Its development was no isolated phenomenon, drawing on existingclassical traditions in the Nordic countries, and from new ideas being pursued in German-speaking cultures. It can thus be characterised as a combination of direct and indirect influences fromvernacular architecture (Nordic, Italian and German) andNeoclassicism.[69]
While the movement had its greatest level of success in Sweden, there were a number of other important Danish proponents includingIvar Bentsen,Kaare Klint,Arne Jacobsen, Carl Petersen andSteen Eiler Rasmussen. Bentsen, with the assistance of Thorkild Henningsen, designed Denmark's firstterraced houses in the Bellahøj district of Copenhagen. Very appropriately Klint, working with Bentsen, adapted the design ofFrederiks Hospital to serve as theDanish Museum of Art & Design. Carl Petersen's main achievement was theFaaborg Museum built for collections of art from Funen. Steen Rasmussen is remembered above all for his town planning activities and for his contributions to the Dansk Byplanlaboratorium (Danish town planning laboratory).[70][71]
Grundtvig's Church inBispebjerg, Copenhagen, is named after the Danish philosopher and pastorNikolai Grundtvig, remembered by most Danes for his resounding hymns, now an integral part of the national culture. As a result of its unusual appearance, it is Denmark's most famousexpressionist church. Designed byPeder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, it relied heavily on Scandinavian brickgothic traditions, especially Danish village churches withstepped gables. Jensen-Klint combined the modern geometric forms ofBrick Expressionism with the classical vertical of Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1921 but was only completed by his sonKaare Klint in 1940 after Jensen-Klint's death. The most striking feature of the building is its west facade, reminiscent of awestwork or of the exterior of a church organ.[72]
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Functionalism, which began in the 1930s, relied on rational architecture making use of bricks, concrete, iron and glass, preferably to meet social needs. Its main proponents in Denmark wereFrits Schlegel,Mogens Lassen,Vilhelm Lauritzen and, especiallyArne Jacobsen with hisBellavista developments north of Copenhagen. Another of Jacobsen's masterpieces was theAarhus City Hall which he designed together withErik Møller in 1937 and completed in 1948. The tower is 60 meters tall and the tower clock face has a diameter of seven meters. The building is made of concrete plated with marble fromPorsgrunn in Norway.[73][74]
A more traditional approach was taken byKay Fisker who, together withC. F. Møller, designed buildings forAarhus University from 1931 onwards.[75]
AfterWorld War II, Functionalism drew on trends inAmerican Modernism with its irregular ground plans, flat roofs,open plan interiors and glass facades. Good examples areJørn Utzon's own family house (1952) on the outskirts of Hellebæk nearHelsingør where good use is made of reasonably cheap materials for post-war housing;[76] and theKingo Houses (1956–58) in Helsingør which consist of 63 L-shaped houses based on the design of traditional Danish farmhouses.[77] Another project, noted for the synthesis it creates between architecture and landscape, was theLouisiana Museum of Modern Art (1958) inHumlebæk, designed byJørgen Bo andVilhelm Wohlert.[78]
During this period, Arne Jacobsen became the country's leadingModernist with the design of theSAS Hotel in Copenhagen (1960). Rødovre Town Hall, completed in 1956, shows how well Jacobsen combined the use of different materials: sandstone, two types of glass, painted metalwork and stainless steel.[79]
Following in Jacobsen's footsteps, Danish artictects had some outstanding successes in 20th-century architecture. Most notably,Jørn Utzon's iconicSydney Opera House earned him the distinction of becoming only the second person to have his work recognized as aWorld Heritage Site while still alive.[80] HisBagsværd Church (1968–76) in Copenhagen has been considered an outstanding example ofcritical regionalism, for the synthesis created between universal civilisation and regional culture.[81]
Winning theinternational competition for theGrande Arche atLa Défense inPuteaux, nearParis, with a design based on simple geometrical forms broughtJohann Otto von Spreckelsen international fame. ProlificHenning Larsen designed the Foreign Ministry building inRiyadh, as well as a variety of prestige buildings throughoutScandinavia, including theCopenhagen Opera House.[82]
From the success of theStrøget's transformation into apedestrian zone in Copenhagen in the 1960s and his influential bookLife Between Buildings,Jan Gehl earned an international reputation inurban design. He has advised on numerous city planning developments including those forMelbourne,London andNew York.[83] His work has often drawn on Copenhagen and itsbicycle culture, to improve the quality ofpublic space in city centres.[84]
Postmodernism andpostmodern architecture have also had its imprint on Danish architecture, with large and notable projects such asHøje-Taastrup train station from 1986 byJacob Blegvad, the multi-purpose venue of Scala in central Copenhagen, just across fromTivoli Gardens, redeveloped in 1989 from a design by architect and professorMogens Breyen, but torn down in 2012, orScandinavian Center in Aarhus byFriis & Moltke from 1995.[85][86][87] Several housing projects in Denmark, especially larger social housing projects, from the 80s and early 90s were also inspired by the postmodern movement of the time. Notable examples include the relatively small apartment complexDet Blå Hjørne (The Blue Corner) inChristianshavn, byTegnestuen Vandkunsten[88] or the larger and much more recentBispebjerg Bakke, inBispebjerg from 2006, designed in collaboration with artistBjørn Nørgaard.[89]
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Since the turn of the millennium, Danish architecture has flourished both at home and abroad. Two important areas of Greater Copenhagen have provided substantial opportunities for architectural developments on the domestic front while a number of firms have gained international recognition, winning important commissions abroad. For some, overseas assignments have become as important as those in Denmark itself. Recent years have also seen the emergence of several new architectural firms operating both in Denmark and internationally.[90]
Ørestad is a contemporary urban development to the south-east of the Copenhagen's city centre. Its origin is connected with the building of theØresund Bridge linking Copenhagen toMalmö in Sweden, completed in 2000. After initial planning stages in the 1990s, the first office building was realised in 2001. By 2010, the constantly expanding area had more than 3,000 apartments and 192,100 m2 of office space.[91][92]
Copenhagen itself has also been undergoing significant transformations in recent years with the encouragement of various projects along the waterfront. Based on initial planning work in the 1980s, the area has already seen the appearance of several prestige buildings including theBlack Diamond national library extension (1999), theOpera House (2000) and theRoyal Danish Playhouse (2004).[93]
Henning Larsen Architects, headed byLouis Becker, are now active outside Denmark. Their international projects include theHarpa concert hall inReykjavík (2011; 2013European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture),[94]Der Spiegel Headquarters in Hamburg (2011),[95] andQuay Quarter Tower in Sydney (2021).[96]
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3XN have designed the award-winningMuziekgebouw Concert Hall inAmsterdam and the newMuseum of Liverpool. More recent projects include the Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney[97]Olympic House inLausanne (2019)[98] andSAP Garden inMunich (2024).[99]
Schmidt Hammer Lassen have opened offices in London and Oslo. In addition to numerous projects in the Nordic countries, their international work includesWestminster College in London, a new library for theUniversity of Aberdeen.[100] and theInternational Criminal Court's building in Brussels (2015).[101]
Among the most notable international projects ofC. F. Møller Architects are extensions to theNatural History[102] and theNational Maritime museums in London (2009–11).[103] They were also successful in being commissioned to build the Akershus University Hospital in Oslo.[104]
Dissing+Weitling are widely recognized asbridge architects after completing some 220 such projects worldwide. These include theGreat Belt Bridge betweenSealand andFunen, theQueensferry Crossing inScotland, theNelson Mandela Bridge inSouth Africa and theStonecutters Bridge inHong Kong. TheGreat Belt suspension bridge, completed in 1998, is the world's third largest. With a length of 6,790 metres (22,277 ft) and a free span of 1,624 metres (5,328 ft), the vertical clearance for ships is 65 metres (213 ft).[105]
Lundgaard & Tranberg are the designers of the Royal Danish Playhouse and theTietgenkollegiet student housing complex, both considered to be among Copenhagen's most successful new buildings.[106] Other recent projects includePier47 and Axel Towers.[107]
Another trend in contemporary Danish architecture is the emergence of a new generation of successful young practices, inspired more by international trends than by the modernist tradition in Scandinavia. The generation is spearheaded byBjarke Ingels whose firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) founded in 2006 has made an unusually rapid transition into a well-established firm. From the beginning, BIG received international recognition for a number of projects, includingMountain Dwellings inØrestad.[108][109] Ideologically and conceptually, the practice is more closely related to Dutch firms such asOMA – where Ingels worked from 1998 to 2001 – andMVRDV than to the work of Danish architects. BIG's major international breakthrough came in 2009. Their realized projects includeAmager Bakke in Copenhagen (2013),VIA 57 West Iin New York City (2016),CapitaSpring in Singapore (2021)[110] andSluishuis in Amsterdam (2023).[111]
Four young practices,CEBRA,Cobe, Transform and Effekt, contributed to the projectCO-EVOLUTION: Danish/Chinese Collaboration on Sustainable Urban Development in China, which was awarded the Golden Lion in 2006 at theVenice Biennale of Architecture. The project was commissioned by theDanish Architecture Centre and curated by the Danish architect-urbanistHenrik Valeur and UiD.[112][113] All four practices later went on to win high-profile competitions in Denmark and abroad. Cobe has created the masterplans for the redevelopment ofNordhavnen in Copenhagen[114] and Nyhavna inTrondheim.[115] Their other projects include the Papirøen mixed-use development in Copenhagen and a new Adidas visitor centre inHerzogenaurach, Germany (2014).[116] CEBRA's international projects include the Al Hosn Masterplan inAbu Dhabi[117] and the Mount Tirana mixed-use development inTirana (2022).[118] Effekt has won the competition for a new building for the Estonian Art Academy in Tallinn,[119] Transform has a project on theCity Hall Square in Copenhagen[120]
Dorte Mandrup has designed theWadden Sea Centre inJutland. She has also won the competition of the design of the Icefjord Centre inGreenland (2016),[121] The Whale cultural centre in Northern Norway,[122] and an Inuit Heritage Centre in Northern Canada,[123]
Other notable emerging Danish architectural practices include Aart,[124] NORD Architects and Werk Architects.[125]
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