Tingbjerg has become known for being on the Danish government’s ghetto list, not for the visionary architecture built in 1950’s, regarded as a cornerstone in Danish modernism. The new public Tingbjerg Library and Culture House’s inviting architecture is designed with input from local residents and focuses on human scale. The result is a new landmark as a focal point for the transformation of Tingbjerg - from ghetto to livable city.
Tingbjerg Library and Culture House is a wedge-shaped shell and functions as an extension to the Tingbjerg School with an angled roof sloping down to the school’s entrance. Through the transparent glass facade inlaid into the wide face of the wedge, the activities inside can be “read” like an old-fashioned typeset case, which inspired the design of the glass façade. The visibility contributes to a sense of safety and openness – and that occupants can engage in a myriad of activities. The heart of the building is defined by the wedge form that becomes an open foyer with niches and balconies on the building’s four levels, that are reminiscent of a mountain village. The house is characterized by its flexibility and robustness, and due to the multifunctional use it has become a hub for different groups: Learning sessions, events, and playing facilities – which has great positive effect on daily life.
In keeping with the area’s modernist architectural language, COBE has chosen materials reflecting the neighbourhood. The project’s cladding in yellow brick baguettes and its sloping roof pay homage to the historic surroundings, designed by architect Steen Eiler Rasmussen and landscape architect C. Th. Sørensen. The interior is clad in warm wooden plywood lamellas that form a dialogue with the brick baguettes outside. A landmark that attempts to blend in, but also challenge Tingbjerg’s materiality and formal expression.
COBE, C. C. Bruun Enterprise and Juul & Nielsen, Kemp & Lauritzen, Søren Jensen, Kragh & Berglund, Rune Fjord Studio (interior design) and Rambøll Architecture (program brief)
View Original