Image: Jens Lindhe, Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

8 House (Tallet) At a glance scoring 48 / 55

PROJECT DETAILS AWARDS

Location: Ørestad Copenhagen, Denmark Sustainability awards Year built: Completed 2010 2011, Best Green Roof in Scandinavia, Scandinavia Green Architects: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Roof Association. Developers: Friederikslund Holding Architectural Awards Management: Friederikslund Holding 2010 European Prize for Budget: Eur 92,000,000 Architecture (The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Area: 61,000 sq. m. Urban Studies); 2012 AIA Institute Density: 78 dwellings per hectar Honour Award for Architecture; Construction: World Best Residential Building Contractor: Hopfner Partners Civil Engineer: Moe & Brødsgaard Roofing at 2011 World Architecture Festival Contractor: Uldum Tag ApS Roof Decks: Skandek Tagelementfabrik A/S in Barcelona, and the 2011 Pre-vegetated Mat Greenroof System: Veg Tech A/S Utzon Prize for its innovative use of concrete.

Environmental Sustainability Social Sustainability Objectives Economic Sustainability Objectives Objectives minimise minimise protect ethical adequate housing interaction quality of competitive economic employment use of pollution biodiversity standards facilities needs met with locality architecture businesses diversity resources

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Brief Description 8 House (8 Tallet in Danish) is situated on the outer edge of the vary from from 65 to 144 m2 and are home to a truly varied city, the southernmost outpost in the maturing neighborhood spectrum of society, from different backgrounds and different of Orestad – Copenhagen. 8 House was slated to be the first in age groups. a collection of buildings to push development in this outskirt The practice, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) describe itself as neighborhood of wide open fields and pastureland. architects, designers, and thinkers operating within the fields 8 House accommodates a variety of activities with 475 of architecture, urbanism, research, and development. Against residential units; 10,000 sq mts of businesses, and community the general belief that sustainability involves reducing society’s facilities. The scheme locates businesses at street level activities that are harmful to the environment, Bjarke Ingels, alongside the surrounding main streets, and at the Northern the firms’ founder, supports and promotes the idea that a courtyard that houses an office building. 8 House is partly sustainable future does not need to involve a stoic sacrifice for social housing for rent and partly privately own. The units the planet, something that he terms hedonistic sustainability.

2 3 Under-path at the crossing of the two blocks connecting visually the green countryside and the blue of the channel waters Image: Jens Lindhe, Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

Images: Ty Stange, Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

Model image showing the twisting eight shape that maximises sunlight for units and communal open spaces. To the left of the picture is the office tower. Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

PROJECT ANALYSIS Environmental sustainability Social Sustainability Economic Sustainability This project best attribute is its mix of activities and people Located within the Kalvebod Fælled’s protected, open spaces, A continuous public path stretches from street level to the This is where the tranquillity of suburban life goes hand which turns it into a mini-city. In addition, the innovative the main concern for the design of the scheme was to keep the penthouses and allows people to walk, run or indeed cycle all in hand with the energy of a big city, where business and design creates an inspiring atmosphere for its residents. As surrounding natural environments as undisturbed as possible. the way from the ground floor up to the top. The path moves housing co-exist. The idea of localising services for residents consequence 8 House has managed to achieve a level of The concept of a complete green roof was a strong idea to alongside apartments and townhouses with gardens, winding is something that most residential developments either vibrancy that is usually related to long periods of time and help such a large developments blend with the original through as if it was an urban perimeter block. take for granted or overlook, with dramatic environmental layers of history. The apartments come in a range of sizes, natural site and sets it off against the reflecting water of the The different housing typologies are united by the exterior consequences as residents are pushed to look for services and tenure and prices aimed at accommodating a large cross Copenhagen Canal. dimensions which provide inspiration for adventures food elsewhere. section of the society. Office and retail spaces are equally Two sloping green roofs totalling and area of 18,300 sq ft communities. As Bjarke Ingels explains “8 House is a three- Addressing this challenge from the start is what places this varied, from service firms to trade. Compared to other selected help to reduce the urban heat island effect. They also provide dimensional neighbourhood rather than an architectural project as the highest level of economic success within our case studies in this report, it is undeniable that this scheme a strong visual identity to the project, contextualising it to object. An alley of 150 row houses stretches through the entire entire sample of selected case studies. 8 House is a newly built strongest characteristic is its economic sustainability and the adjacent farmlands towards the south. They help to keep block and twists all the way from street level to the top and development, in what was an empty field which comes with innovative design. biodiversity by connecting to its pre-construction site on the down again. Where social life, the spontaneous encounter and shopping areas, restaurants, an art gallery, offices, childcare adjoining fields. Originally the design called for the entire roof neighbour interaction traditionally is restricted to the ground and educational facilities. To achieve economic diversity area to be green, but the flat roof areas were cut due to the level, the 8 House allows it to expand all the way to the top.” 1 through mix, the scheme stacks all its basic ingredients financial crisis. (residential, office and retail) into layers, creating and instant 8 House’s environmental sustainability not only helps lively urban neighborhood. All layers are connected by a biodiversity and reduces the urban heat island effect with its continuous promenade and cycling path up to the 10th floor, green roof but also with its cool courtyards, planted trees at creating a communal area where suburban life merges with entrances and container plantings on the balconies. the energy of a big city, where business and housing co- In such a high density scheme guaranteeing sunlight and fresh exist. The complexity of the project has elevated the concept air to all spaces is usually challenging. The scheme is literally of high density housing to a new level, and has in our view ‘hoisted up’ in the North East corner and ‘squeezed down’ at inaugurated a new typology for architects and designers. the South West corner, allowing light and air to enter the court yard in the middle.

4 5 Image: Ty Stange, Source BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

Design and Construction 8 House Key Sustainable Features For the design of the scheme, BIG has been partly inspired by • 18,300 sq ft of Green roof and other forms of planting that classic townhouses. Some types used for the reconstruction help reducing urban heat island effect. of Berlin (IBA, Berlin 1987), in particular the large perimeter • 10,000 m2 of businesses and community facilities to start block, is perhaps the closest precedent to House 8. But BIG local economy and promote socialisation. has modified the type by strangling the perimeter block at • Functional mix of residential, retail and office activities that the centre and creating two distinct internal spaces. At the enhances and support economic diversity. crossing of the two blocks the architects placed 500 sq mts of • Residential mix from all levels and age groups of society, communal space. To allow permeability and to connect the offering inspiring communal spaces for informal gathering park area to the west and the channel to the east, this same and casual encounters. crossing opens in a generous and wide passage (9 mts wide). Instead of dividing the different functions of the building - for both habitation and trades - into separate blocks, the various functions have been spread out horizontally. The apartments are placed at the top while the commercial programme unfolds at the base of the building. This way, the residents get the best views and enjoy the sunlight, while offices and retail which are usually generators of heat due to computer equipment and human traffic, enjoy the cool of the shade. The architects have designed a large, coherent scheme with immense differences in height, which allows views towards the Copenhagen Canal and Kalvebod Faelled’s protected open spaces.

Endnotes 1 Bjarke Ingels’ videos and commentaries are available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In9tU2VLbLI

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