International ideas competition for the Carlsberg site

Carlsberg is a unique area in Copenhagen, characterized by historical buildings, beautiful gardens and is situated in an exciting position on a sloping hill.

It is the intention of this proposal to keep and to expand the qualities of the area and to develope them with futher facilities and activities.

With our proposal we have would like to

– Keep as many as possible of the existing industrial buildings on Carlsberg and transform them into a new use.

– Create building complexes in every part of Carlsberg to vitalize the entire area.

– Create a dense city to ensure a lively and vibrant future Carlsberg.

– Create a dense urban city in close connection to recreational features.

– Create big and small city spaces.

– Create dense buildings complexes that contains a mix of residential and commercial facilities.

– Create new cultural and recreational facilities that contributes to the city life of the new neighbourhood and that can ensure that Carlsberg is going to be a lively city both day and night.

This proposal is based on 3 guiding elements:

The Recreative Element: The ability to create landscape features- ¨waterscapes¨, parks and gardens to ensure active and passive recreational options. Other recreational activities are indoor facilities for the body and the mind.

The Urban Element: The ability to form urban spaces from the big scale to the small scale that can generate many kinds of city life.

The Creative Element: The ability to generate new cultural facilities to attract creative jobs and persons.

This proposal has tried to interweave these 3 elements so they support and develope each other to generate a new city of complexity and exitement. This is done by integrating landscape and urbanity, mixing old and new buildings and mixing city functions and activities.

CITY LIFE

It is our intention to built a dense city structure to ensure a concentrated city life in the future Carlsberg where urban and landscape qualities mix with cultural and recreational facilities. The proposal has tried to include many features of city life as we know them from the european city with its squares, parks, promenades and other facilities so it attracts not only locals but also visitors from the rest of the city and from abroad.

To ensure a diverse and versatile city it has been very important to make building complexes that contains mixed housing, shops, workshops and intitutions for all kinds of people.

New Activities:

Today there already exist several points of interest on the Carlsberg area such as the Visitor Centre, the House Brewery and the Carlsberg Museum in the original buildings by the founders of Carlsberg.

After the big production of beer has stopped on Carlsberg, many buildings are released for new purposes. We suggest a string of new cultural and recreational facilities:

-A Carlsberg Discovery Centre in connection to the Visitors Centre at Old Carlsberg.

-A Carlsberg Information Centre in Kampmanns Laboratory building.

-An exhibition centre for sculpture in the former Carlsberg Museum building.

-An exhibition centre for contemporary art in the former Power Station.

-A multi-purpose hall, here called ¨The Carlsberg Hall¨ in the former Boilerhouse.

-A library and a learning centre in the former Administration building at Vesterfælledvej.

-A centre for art and leisure in the former New Tap building.

The proposal includes a lot of outdoor activities concentrated on the main spaces and squares in the future Carlsberg. There will be activities for sport, play and entertainement for every season of the year. There will be covered spaces for market activities and special build structures for gathering purposes that eventually can change appearence every year.

STRUCTURE

It is important for this proposal to create an architectural feature for the Carlsberg area that unites most of the new city structure. We propose a big urban landscape space- a ¨waterscape¨ where most of the new building structures are orientated towards. It forms at the same time an exiting passage all through the new city and is the main point of reference.

This big feature takes it beginning at the highest point of the Carlsberg area by Gamle Carlsbergvej in front of Carlsberg Research Centre. By opening this point up towards east and exposing the facade of the Research Centre, we emphazise the origin of the Carlsberg area and acknowledge the importance of science that has been the basis for Carlsbergs big succes. This point is going to be the new areas most important view point.

A big ¨waterscape ¨takes its beginning from this high point and slopes down the hill parallel to the gardens of Gamle Carlsberg and Carls Villa. The ¨waterscape¨ ends in a lake that accentuate the flatness of the area at the end of the hill. This big space unites the lower area and most of the new building complexes that faces it. Most of the new proposed streets points toward this new centre of activity where many of the shops, cafés, bars and restaurants naturally will be placed. Along Vesterfælledvej we propose several new city spaces that serves as entrance spaces to the Carlsberg area.

A diagonal passage, the art and activity axis, takes its beginning in one of the axes leading to the Frederiksberg Castle in the north west corner of the Carlsberg area. This new passage forms a new connection from the Søndermarken Park through Carlsberg to Enghave where it unites with Sønder Boulevards ¨green¨ passage in front of the New Tap building.

A new entrance square towards Valby Langgade is created and from this square there is acces to the Glyptotek Exhibition Centre and the new Carlsberg Information Centre. From this point the passage ¨runs¨ through a gallery in the Yeast Cellar building to the Power Station which contain an Exhibition Center for Contemporary Art. Next door is the Carlberg Hall, a major gathering space. From here the axis crosses the ¨waterscape¨ and continues to the New Tap Building. Close to here lies the former Administration building that in the future will contain a Library and a Learning Centre.

The new public spaces of the new city

The ¨Waterscape¨and the Lake.

This is the proposal most important feature and we imaging it as an exciting ¨waterscape¨ mixed with urban facilities where waters different qualities will come into play and will interact with the people who participate. Waterfalls and fountains are some of the features that will be included and when the night comes light installations will play a major role so it will become an attraction for Carlsberg and the city of Copenhagen. We expect several designers and artists wil take part in the construction of it.

The lake at the end of the ¨waterscape¨will be the natural gathering point in the Carlsberg area. A dynamic line in the lake divides it up into several sections so it can be suitable for different kinds of activities all year around. In the summertime it can be used for bathing and sailing. In the central part of the lake, a temporary summer square is established to bring people close to the water and for relaxation, play and amusement. In the wintertime an ice rink will be a natural gathering activity. The ¨waterscape¨ and the lake will be bordered by trees that will make an inviting and attractive promenade.

Parks and gardens.

One of the big attractions of the Carlsberg site are the two old gardens with exotic trees that surround the villa’s of Old Carlsberg and New Carlsberg. In the future the public will be allowed use the gardens but they will remain fenced and closed in night time for security reasons.

The proximity of the Søndermarken Park to Carlsberg makes it evident to connect the two recreational spaces and make new passages through the Carlsberg area and thus futher connecting it to its neighbouring green areas like the Vestre Cemetery, the Enghave Square and the Sønder Boulevard.

The garden of Carls Villa opens up by making new entrances from the Søndermarken Park, from the new garden square in front of Carlsberg Science Centre and towards the new park that connects the garden of the Villa with the lake at the end of the hill. This new park is leveled in formal steps as a contrast to the dynamic lines of the ¨waterscape¨. Down by the lake the steps creates an arena for outdoor entertainment.

The garden of Old Carlsberg also opens up against its surroundings and 4 new entrances are established. A new entrance is created to the garden in the south-west corner by the tall old bridge so it will be possible to cross the Old Carlsberg garden from the Vestre Cemetery.

Several paths and bridges link The Old Carlsberg garden with the garden of Carls Villa and the new park in connection to it.

A garden is established around the the former Administration building at Vesterfælledvej to benefit the local area and the new library.

At Rahbecks Allé in the north eastern corner of Carlsberg, a recreational area is layed out for sport activities and for institutions such as a kindergarten and a school.

Squares

Several new squares are proposed on Carlsberg to encourage city life.

– In front of the Carlsberg Science Centre a new garden square is created on both side of Gamle Carlsberg vej to emphasize the importance of place.

– By the Carlsberg Visitor Centre a new square is created. New buildings on the western side of Gamle Carlsberg Vej will enclose the space.

– By the entrance from Valby Langgade to Ny Carlsbergvej a new square is created to make a more spacial and prominent entrance to the Carlsberg area. From the square it will be possible to catch sight of one allees leading to Frederiksberg Castle. There will be acces to the new Glyptotek Exhibition Center and the Carlsberg Information Centre. In the middle of the square there will be a tall information stand.

– On the other side of the former Laboratory building a new square is created. From this square two important promenades take their beginning- the art and activity axis and the passage leading to the lake.

– By Vesterfælledvej on Ny Carlsbergvej a new square is created that acts as the entrance to Carlsberg from Vesterbro. From the square there are streets in several directions to different locations on Carlsberg. Here are placed a metro station and the entrance to one of the main parking underground parking for visitors to the area. On the corner of Vesterfælledvej and Ny Carlsbergvej a small shopping center is established to serve both customers from Vesterbro and Carlsberg. Where the new square meets the promenade at the lake a covered space is formed for market and gathering activities.

– By Vesterfælledvej close to Enghave Station a new square is made in front of the massive New Tap building. From this square the art and activity passage that connects Enghave with the Søndermarken Park is taking its beginning and here it meets the continuation of the ¨green¨ passage from Sønder Boulevard. The point is marked by a tall building which will act as a new landmark for Carlsberg. Its proximity to the rail road will make it visible for many passing travellers. The platforms of the Enghave Station is prolongened so a direct acces is possible to the new square.

– On the other side of the New Tap building another triangular aquare is formed. It gives acces to the Old Carlsberg garden and to the wintergarden in the New Tap Building and it has more garden character than the more urban square on the other side.

The buildings of the new city

All the new building structures are layed out so the follow the proposed main features and the defined city spaces. It means that every building plot in the new city will be orientated towards either a ¨waterscape¨, a park/garden or a square which makes it possible to build higher and denser building complexes than usual in an urban context. By building a denser city you uptain a more lively city. The plots are of a size that makes them evident to fill out by one architectural concept so you secure a consequent architectural design. The number of planned plots ensures if planned by different architects that Carlsberg can become a very diverse and interesting city. Every plot should be planned in a different way according to its location and programming.

The Layered Building Model.

In every plot it is required that it consist of a functional and social complexity. We propose a model entitled ¨The Layered Model¨. Of course it is possible to mix the different functions in other ways as long as it is secured that each building zone or plot will contain a diverse functional and social mix.

In our model we propose that the ground floor of the buildings should always be used for commercial and public purposes such as shops, cafe’s, bars, restaurants and workshops to secure lively streets. Centrally on the ground floor level there is lobby that gives acces to the floors above. Parts of the lobby can be used for communial facilities for the residents of the building.

Above the ground floor we suggest that the next 2 levels form a middle layer that contains offices, health centres, hostels, student housings, communal housing for elderly people and so on.

Above these 3 floors we propose a very complex and varied residential housing scheme with tower blocks and terraced gardens.

We propose that the buildings in the future Carlsberg city should mainly be build in glass to obtain an architectural consistenty. The aethetic and termic qualitities of glass are evident and it would be possible to obtain that the new carlsberg area in the future becomes an experitarium in the use of glass in building design. There is a long tradition for the use of glass on Carlsberg and glass building could create an interesting contrast to historic buildings more rustic appearences. If the building design process in the future gets planned in an aethetical way, the new city of Carlsberg could become architecturally unique.

The existing buildings

Today Carlsberg consist of a large number of buildings that are worth keeping both the old historical houses and the industrial buildings. Some of the old buildings only needs to be renovated like the Carlsberg Museum building and Laboratory building so they can be used as exhibition centres. Other industrial buildings like the Power Station, the Boiler House and the New Tap building all need bigger renovations and can be enlarges with glass extentions so they can fulfil their new purposes.

The Old Carlsberg.

To make a new powerful museum centre at the Old Carlsberg we propose to move the collection of the Carlsberg Museum to a new museum complex in new buildings opposite Old Carlsberg and combine it with a new Carlsberg Discovery Centre. This new museum centre might alternatively be placed in the underground cellars of Old Carlsberg.

Carlsberg wish to add new storage facilities to the house brewery. It could be solved in a new building next to the tank park or it could be placed in one of the new buildings opposite Old Carlsberg on the Old Carlsbergvej.

Carls Villa and the Museum Building.

The Museum Building to Carls Villa was original erected as a Glyptotek to house the sculpture collection of Carl Jacobsen. Today the building contains Carlsberg Museum which we propose to move to Old Carlsberg to join the new Discovery Centre. We propose to reuse the building as a Glyptotek for exhibitions of sculptures from the collection of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and for temporary exhibitions of contemporary sculptures. In the south-east corner of the building a glass extention is erected for exhibition purposes.

The Laboratory Building.

The building of Kampmanns will in the future house the Carlsberg Information Center. It will be possible here to follow in drawing, model and audiovisual medias the proces of the transformation of the Carlsberg area.

The Powerstation.

The Power Stations big and simple interiors are excelent to use for exhibition space. We propose that either The National Gallery or The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art could establish a satelite to their main museums where they can show temporary exhibitions or parts of their permanent collection. The building might also be used as an independent exhibition space for contemporary art which Copenhagen has missed for many years. In the south-east corner of the building a glass building is erected as a new entrance to the art centre.

West of the Boiler house lies the small Lighthouse building in a garden. We propose that the charming building could be used as a cafe and a restaurant with outdoor service.

The Boilerhouse.

The Boilerhouse contains a vast and remarkable space. We propose to use this as the new city’s main gathering space- called the Carlsberg Hall. It can be used for many purposes like concerts, fairs, shows, conferences, parties and so on. It can be rentet out on a commercial basis. On the south-east facade of the building a glass extention is attached for cafe, bar and restaurant facilities.

The Adminstration Building.

The Administration building on the Vesterfælledvej has architectural character and one of the few houses in the eastern end of Carlsberg worth keeping. We propose that the Carlsberg adminstration moves closer to the Headquarter. The building can then be used as a Learning Centre and as a local Library. A glass extention is erected on the western side of the building containing the main library space and it is orientated towards the garden behind.

The New Tap Building.

The building is Carlsberg biggest volume and tells about how large production facilities there once existed on Carlsberg. The New Tap building is the only one of the big production buildings we keep because of its huge floor surface and its simple and usable space.

We propose to utilize the building as a Centre for Art and Leisure for the Carlsberg area and for the rest of Copenhagen. It can contain many different activities and facilities of creational and recreational kind like sport and gym facilities, a Well-being Centre with spa and pool, dance and drama school, workshops and studios for artists, architects, designers and so on. A small exhibition space, a stage and a cinema may complete the facilities for the preforming arts.

We also propose that The Royal Cast Collection could be installed in the upper sky lit level where there are perfect lighting conditions for exhibition of plaster casts. Today the collection of plaster cast is housed in a badly lit warehouse by the inner harbour of Copenhagen. Together with the other art exhibition places on Carlsberg it could offer a unique presentation of art and in sculpture where all ages and genre are represented. Mixing art and sport facilities in the same building is an appealing constellation that crosses the usual boundaries between the activities.

Cafés and restaurants would be a natural part of these facilities and the neighbourhoods community centre is also found in the New Tap building.

To get light into the central space of the building we propose to create a tall winter garden like the winter garden in the New Carlsberg Glyptotek. This vast space will act as the central distribution space to all the facilities of the house. The combination of the many activities in the New Tap building will ensure it will be one of the most lively art and leisure houses in Copenhagen at all times of the day and all times at year. In the lower floors of the building parking spaces are provided.

The Carlsberg Headquarter and the Carlsberg Denmark Headquarter.

We propose to assemble all Carlsberg adminstration facilities in buildings along Ny Carlsberg Vej.

The Carlsberg Headquarter will stay in the existing tower building. The lower part of the tower can be transformed into office space and a new acess to the building is made from Ny Carlsberg Vej.

As a the most important visual landmark of the area we propose a bigger renovation of the exterior of the building to give it a stronger visual identity and presence. The building could be cladded in a new ¨skin¨ and at the facade facing the lake, we propose a vertical garden with in-built lighting that could provide the new facade with a changeable surface and it could be an attraction in itself both at day time and at night time. A sky bar and restaurant with an outdoor lift to the ground, could be established on the top floor of the tower building so you can enjoy the views over the Carlsberg area and the rest of Copenhagen.

The old Brewhouse could be the new headquarter of Carlsberg Danmark with a new entrance from square next to it. The powerful interior with the huge copper kettles could be part of the new lobby and be open to visitors. From the Dipylon Gate and the Elephant Gate there will be acces to futher office space on the other side of Ny Carlsbergvej where two new office blocks are layed out.

Opposite the headquarter of Carlsberg on Ny Carlsberg Vej we propose to build a hotel with conference facilities to service the neighbourhood and Copenhagen in generel.

At the square in front of New Tap building we propose to erect a tower block. It should be designed by the best architects and should express aethetical and technical superiorty and sustainability.

Cellars.

Below a great part of Carlsberg there exist underground cellars. Many of these will be demolised in connections to the new use of the ground above but the surviving cellars can be used to many purposes like storage facilities, rooms for rehearsing musicians, play and game activities, clubs and so on.

Traffic, parking and public transport

Pedestrian and bicycle traffic should have priority to vehicles so most part of the future Carlsberg will be ¨car free¨. Visitiors arriving in car to the area will have to park their vehicles in underground car parks at the entrances to the Carlsberg area- at the entrance to Ny Carlsbergvej from Valby Langgade, at the entrance to Ny Carlsbergvej from Vesterfælledvej and at the south-east entrance from Vigerslev Alle. Only the people who lives in the area and service traffic should be allowed vehicle admission to the underground parking in the building complexes.

Ny Carlsbergvej is closed for ¨run through¨ traffic so it will only be pedestrians and bicycles that can cross the bridge that connects the eastern and the western part of the Carlsberg area.

We consider that it is not possible to downgrade Valby Langgade because the street is Valby’s most important traffic connection to Frederiksberg and Vesterbro. It is recommended to make precautions so the traffic can slow down on the distance between the Søndermarken Park and the Carlsberg area so it will be easier and safer to cross the street of Valby Langgade.

To make a new traffic connection between Gamle Carlsbergvej and Vigerslev Alle seems a too dramatic and unnecessary solution because of the big differences in level. Such a connection will only increase the ¨run through¨ traffic on the Carlsberg area and on Valby Langgade. It is evident to maintain the Gamle Carlsberg Vej as a quiet service street and to encurage the pedestrian and bicycle connection from the Vestre Cemetery to the Carlsberg area.

By rebuilding Enghave Station, it will be possible to get a new direct acces to Carlsberg close to the new tower building in the south-east corner of the area. A metro station is proposed at the entrance square at Ny Carlsbergvej close to Vesterfælledvej if the Metro City Ring Line will connect to the Carlsberg area.

SUSTAINABILITY

Social sustainability

We wish that the future Carlsberg will become a social mixed and cultural complex new neighbourhood in Copenhagen. Our choice of a building structure based on the ¨Layered Model¨ will ensure this complexity so Carlsberg will be a lively and exciting place to live in and to visit.

Enviromental sustainability:

When transforming the Carlsberg area into a new city it is evident to take into consideration the enviromental implications on all levels of decisions and all aspects of the planning process. To make the buildings enviromental sustainable, attention should be paid to use of materials, the building process and in the use of the new buildings.

In our proposal we have worked with dense urban structures and building complexes that saves building materials and we have proposed an extensive use of roof terrraces and gardens in multiple storeys that will improve the local climate and enviroment.

Vi propose an extensive use of glass in the new buildings. Glasses termic qualities are apparent and combined with double facades and solar panels, the new city will be energy saving. Rain and waste water collecting are other measures to save on the resources.

To priority pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the future Carlsberg and getting vehicles parked in underground carparks at the entrances to the area, will improve the generel climate of enviroment and will make it attractive for many groups of people.

Economical sustainability:

By proposing a dense city with building complexes of high density that ensure a lively and vibrant city life, we hope it will also secure an economical sustainability of the area.

REALISATION

It has been very important for this proposal to obtain a flexible city where the city spaces have an inbuilt changebility for new functions and opportunities. The proposal contains several city spaces, parks, squares, facilities and buildings which frame and content can be developed in the future by other artists, architects and landscape designers.

To ensure that the future developement of the Carlsberg area will have an inbuilt changeability and flexibility we propose to develope the area in 6 steps:

1. The existing buildings in the Carlsberg area that can be used in the future proces of transforming Carlsberg and the visual axes that have to be respected.

2. The main urban idea – the re/creational features- the landscape and the cultural facilities. The Carlsberg area is by these means divided up into

3. The Developement Zones- which describe the areas where its possible to built. These zones are all orientated towards a waterscape, park or a square.

4. The Planning Zones- which divide the area up into smaller neighbourhoods and where it will be natural to plan an area in one proces.

5. The Building Zones- that define the secondary city spaces and that can be divided up into

6. The Plots- that define the size of the individual building complexes.