Optimization and utilization of the city roofElmegade
district is one of the most densely populated areas of inner Nørrebro,
Copenhagen. As for the triangular block of Birkegade/Egegade/Elmegade,
this density can also be measured by its inner dark, narrow and cramped
courtyard.It is through those courtyard conditions that the
concept of the project originates: The driving concept is to create the
‘missing garden’ at the top of the existing housing block in association
with 3 new penthouses, so that all residents gain access to a genuine
outdoor garden.In order to qualify ‘the missing garden’, we
looked at the current conditions of Copenhagen gardens. They are
characteristically associated with functionality. With that sense, we
have taken the rooftop garden as a designed space of functions with an
association to materiality. This is reflected in our project’s
orange playground with shock-absorbing surface and a playful suspension
bridge, a green hill with varying accommodation backed by real grass and
durant vegetation, a viewing platform, an outdoor kitchen and barbecue,
and a more quiet wooden deck.The aim is to optimize and fully
exploit the situations that the site has to offer, and thereby design a
potential for the future exploitation of the roof to the delight of all
the co-op’s residents. It is a concept which is not limited to establish
the 3 new apartments, but a concept which both creates a useful roof
garden as well as a beautiful landscape for the co-op’s neighbours and
city residents in general.