The new community centre and mosque at Dortheavej in Copenhagen is a modern, Nordic interpretation of Islamic architecture, and brings this meeting of Nordic and Islamic building traditions to Denmark for the first time.
Together, the community centre and the district’s new library on Rentemestervej will constitute an architectural rejuvenation of Copenhagen’s otherwise neglected Northwest neighborhood.
Composed volumetrically of a number of domes, the interior is experienced as a single space. The large and centralized inner court brings together the building’s two functions of community centre and mosque.
A passage leads directly into the inner court, inviting passersby to visit the community centre, which also includes a café, bazaar, library, bookshop, classrooms, meeting rooms, offices and underground parking for cars and bikes. Along Tomsgaardsvej, the transparent facade is pushed back to create an outdoor seating area on the sidewalk, further emphasizing the invitation.
The geometric pattern of the facades is inspired by Islamic ornamentation, and varying apertures in the facade create an interior illuminated by varying levels of daylight, depending on the function of the room. The openness of the facade fluctuates from near-opacity to transparency at street level, in a welcoming gesture of openness to the community around it.
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