Bjarke Ingels Group creates 66 homes for low-income citizens in Copenhagen

Dortheavej, named after its address in the northwestern part of Copenhagen, is a five-story building that winds through an area characterized by car shops, storage buildings, and industrial facilities from the 1930s-1950s. The Bjarke Ingels Group-designed, $9.8 million multifamily building provides 66 low-income units across approximately 73,000 sf.

Dortheavej’s architectural checkered pattern is based on a singular prefab structure. The building, which is conceived as a porous wall, gently curves toward the center to create space for a public plaza towards the street on the south side and a green courtyard towards the north. The building opens up on the street level to allow the residents and general public to pass into the courtyard.

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Housing modules are stacked to the height of the surrounding buildings. The stacking creates additional space for each apartment to have a small terrace. Units range from approximately 645 sf to 1,230 sf and are equipped with 11-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. BIG kept the materials simple, primarily using wood and concrete.

Photo: Rasmus Hjortshoj.

Photo: Rasmus Hjortshoj.

Photo: Rasmus Hjortshoj.

Photo: Rasmus Hjortshoj.