Parking House + Konditaget Lüders
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
Konditaget Lüders also known as "PARK'N'PLAY" is a hybrid structure between parking house and playground. It rethinks the monofunctional parking house and transforms what is often an infrastructural necessity into a public amenity. Located on the rooftop – 24 meters above ground – it provides a recreational area and a view of the horizon, often only for the privileged few.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
Parking houses should be an integral part of the city. But how can we challenge the monofunctional use of the conventional parking house? How do we create a functional parking structure, which is also an attractive public space?
Konditaget Lüders is situated in Århusgadekvarteret, which is the first phase of a major development plan for Nordhavn. The neighbourhood is currently under development and will in the future host a mix of new and existing buildings. Today, the area is known as the Red Neighbourhood because of the historical and characteristic red brick harbour buildings. The future development will build upon this historical trait and merge existing characteristics into new interpretations.
Instead of concealing the parking structure, we proposed a concept that enhances the beauty of the structural grid while breaking up the scale of the massive façade. A system of plant boxes is placed in a rhythm relating to the grid, which introduces a new scale while also distributing the greenery across the entire façade. A staircase and a red handrail guide people from street level to the 2,400 m2 rooftop 24 metres above ground level. Swings, trampolines, jungle gyms, crossfit equipment, monkey bars and benches offer a view of the Copenhagen skyline and an opportunity to exercise for people defying the altitude.
The basic principle of an active parking house is the idea of an accessible and recreational roof offered to local inhabitants and visitors alike. Visibility and accessibility are therefore essential when creating a living roof. A staircase towards the open square provides a diagonal connection between street- and roof level, and invites people to ascend along the façade. The course of the staircase follows the building’s structural rhythm, and each landing provides a view across the surrounding urban spaces and at the top, a view to the roofs of Copenhagen.
Key objectives for sustainability
Parking House + Konditaget Lüders is an example of how we can rethink conventional public buildings by making them multifunctional and more appealing to the citizens. Parking houses are still a necessity in the cities, but they do not have to occupy so much space as we normally see. By designing with a multifunctional approach, we can create new and more attractive places in cities with less building costs and thus less CO2 emissions.
The building offers 485 urban parking spaces distributed on seven floors that are fully equipped with energy saving LED lights. A special ramp system has also been designed for the building which allows cars to go up and down using the same ramp so as to reduce the need to drive, thereby limiting CO2 emissions. Moreover, the facade and roof offer an opportunity to increase the health and well-being of the residents in the neighbourhood by adding and activating additional public space and a living green facade.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The competition scope called for a conventional parking house with an attractive green façade and a concept that would encourage the public to use the rooftop. Our response was to combine a functional (and standardized) parking structure with an attractive public space, utilizing the entire building envelope to foster movement and community creation in a brand-new neighbourhood. The customized façade is based on an interplay between structure and nature. Instead of concealing the structure of the parking house, the façade design enhances the beauty of the construction, utilizing the grid to break up the scale of the large volume. Supported by a system of planters hanging from the façade, this concept introduces a smaller scale to the building while distributing greenery across the entire façade.
A frieze decorating the façade depicts historic tales from the harbor. It pictures its development, significant buildings and structures, activities and other transformative events that have shaped the history of Nordhavn. The frieze is designed and illustrated by Rama Studio. It has references to Centre Pompidou, where the movement along the façade is an experience in itself.
Key objectives for inclusion
Konditaget (the urban playground on the roof) is developed in close collaboration with the Danish sports association (DGI Storkøbenhavn), crossgym- and running experts, and The Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities (LOA). This collaboration has ensured close consideration of all kinds of user groups and their needs, from children to elderly, beginners and professionals.
Results in relation to category
The project offers a new take on integrating sports and wellbeing in modern city planning. It has been internationally acclaimed by several award programs such as the “Archmarathon Landscape and Infrastructure Award” in 2018. Here, the jury underlined the value creation coming from “an audacious collaboration between city, client, users and architects”.
The building also won a Danish Design Award 2020, especially for its democratic approach. The jury stated: “This is the first time we have seen a parking house come alive. The living roof has been incorporated into the building in a very intelligent way, allowing people to run and play, while giving them access to a view, you would normally have to pay for.”
After four years in use, the parking house has exceeded all expectations and attracts all kinds of user groups including tourists from near and far.
How Citizens benefit
Parking House + Konditaget Lüders is used by many different people and user groups. Swings, ball cages, jungle gyms, trampoline and more on the roof inspires to different kinds of urban training, such as crossfit, TRX, running, climbing, dancing, just to name a few. For people not interested in training, an amazing view of the surroundings allow visitors to simply take a rest at 24 meters height. An opportunity that is usually limited to the few.
The different activities on the roof are developed in close collaboration with sports associations and the locals JAJA held workshops to meet the many needs. This has resulted in Konditaget Lüders to be a very popular public space for locals and tourists and many local fitness teams/communities are doing workouts on the top of the roof.
Innovative character
Parking House + Konditaget Lüders is the first parking house in Denmark integrating an active urban space on the roof. The project delivers a new perspective on how and where to place recreational facilities in cities. It uncovers areas and spaces that have been previously overlooked, and by that reveils a new and great potential in urban planning. The jury verdict from the IOC IAKS Award points out the potential perspective in adapting the design solution to other cities and structures: “By finding, drawing attention to and using the former “dead areas”, Lüders gives hope for the future of active life in cities. The project shows that if designers are creative and owners are willing to think in a new direction, space is there, and active city life is possible.” By now, the project has already served as an example for several other design solutions in Denmark and beyond.
