Report from RISING Architecture Week Copenhagen 2015.

If you follow along on Instagram, you probably would’ve noticed that September saw us travel a pretty crazy amount. From Hong Kong to China, Copenhagen to London – everything happened extremely quickly with very little notice. We are officially knackered but super happy to bring you so much unique content and share everything we’ve been up to. Today we shine a little spotlight on the inaugural Rising Architecture Week 2015, which took place in Copenhagen between 15-18 September. (I know what you’re thinking – why is it called a “week” when it only goes for 4 days, but hey – stop being so picky, ok?!) Team Yellowtrace were kindly invited by the lovely Lisa, the editor of DANISH™, an online magazine dedicated to promoting Danish design and architecture internationally, and the official media partner of RISING. So off we went for a 2-day jam packed press tour of the events held all around Copenhagen, attending a bunch of different lectures, bike tours and visiting a few recently completed (or almost completed) projects varying in scale.

RISING Architecture Week aims to showcase Danish architecture from an international perspective. By gathering professionals from all over the world, RISING seeks to create a playground for professionals to share ideas and projects, and provide a platform for establishing new partnerships with the potential of revolutionising the future of architecture. RISING is about exploring the city, gaining knowledge and challenging our perceptions of architectural norms. RISING is not an academic practice – it is primarily a meeting place. The event is intended not only for architects and other visionaries within the building industry, but for everybody who believes in creating and shaping buildings, spaces and lifestyles. This years’ theme was Growing Cities, with several highly acclaimed Danish and international speakers gathering at the Lecture Hall on Paper Island, presenting a series of interesting debates on how to improve lives in global cities, and the way in which buildings respond to climates.

Read on for the highlights from our brilliant jam-packed two-day tour.

RISING Lecture Hall on Paper Island (Papirøen).
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Rising Architecture Week Copenhagen, Photo © Nick Hughes | Yellowtrace

&tradition showroom was transformed into a hub of activities with a series of events for RISING. The showroom is located next door to the Lecture Hall. Designed by Norm Architects, I previously shared this interior with you in this post.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

We were transported in hilarious bike taxis to our next venue, via the stunning new Cirkelbroen Bridge by Studio Olafur Eliasson, located on Christianshavns Kanal in Copenhagen. In the background is the The Black Diamond library designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen in 1999.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Cirkelbroen Bridge by Studio Olafur Eliasson.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Our bike tour hosted by Henning Larsen Architects (HLA) saw us explore the Copenhagen Harbour, with a guided tour of some of the most significant buildings and developments along the foreshore, like the Kalvebod Brygge (Kalvebod Waves), designed by JDS Architects in 2013.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Although not the topic of the tour, we also cycled past the Dome of Visions (see previous coverage of this project here), which is located adjacent to The Black Diamond.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Day One of the first morning was spent at the Lecture Hall listening to a number of interesting speakers and debates. A few personal highlights included ‘The City as a Landscape’ by Kjetil Trædahl Thorsen, Founding Partner of Snøhetta, who shared the studio’s approach to designing in close response to extremely varied landscapes around the world – from a library in Saudi Arabia, Ground Zero memorial in NYC, to the Busan Opera House (presented via a lyrical video that almost made me teary – true story). Another point that really stood out from Trædahl Thorsen’s lecture was his belief that culture should be seen as a primary driver and just as important as food – a vehicle for spearheading the society forward.

Kristian Ahlmark, Senior Partner at schmidt hammer lassen discussed the power of social media as a way of examining buildings after they’ve been designed. His lecture began with images sourced from social media and hashtags relating to the buildings the studio designed, as a means of seeing a new take on architecture from real people. Ahlmark is in tune with the idea that the users have a new take on what the architects set out to do, which is just as relevant. “Architects only create a framework for buildings, then hand it over for people to use,” says the architect.

Rasmus Astrup, Partner at SLA Urban Design & Landscape Architecture spoke about the studio’s extensive and precious materials library. He reiterated the importance of the smell of different materials, and the idea that these are the DNA with which buildings and cities are put together. During the lecture, he passed around the jars of various materials from the studio library, containing samples such as pure calcium, different types of sand and soil, plants, glass etc, encouraging us to smell each material jar. This was absolutely fascinating! SLA is an extremely diverse practice that deliberately employs artists, engineers and biologists who bring critical and out-of-the-box thinking to the mix. Astrup also spoke at length about a simple and powerful idea that “Sustainability is the minimum.” Legend.

In the afternoon of Day 01, we were transported in hilarious bike taxis to our next venue, via the stunning new Cirkelbroen Bridge by Studio Olafur Eliasson, located on Christianshavns Kanal. After we reached our destination, we were each given our own bike, setting out on an interesting tour hosted by Henning Larsen Architects (HLA), which saw us explore key points around Copenhagen Harbour, with a guided tour of some of the most significant buildings and developments along the foreshore. The day ended with a tour and dinner at the HLA studio.

No, we are not stars in some sci-fi movie. We are simply wearing goggles for an aerial drone tour lead by Arkitema architects, lead designers for ’Sydhavnen’ a new area in Copenhagen. Side note – I’m not too happy about being labelled a ‘Fat Shark’ here. Just sayin’.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

3XN and GXN office tour. More to follow in a separate post.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

CPH Shelter – mobile home inside a shipping containter.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Boat trip along Copenhagen harbour with Lars B. Lindeberg from JJW architects.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

We cruised past The Standard (remember this post?) which I still haven’t had the chance to visit in person. *Sigh*
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Brand new primary school in ’Sydhavnen’ by JJW architects, which we toured with Lars B. Lindeberg. (If you’re into architecture for children, you might like this post.)
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Amazing stair inside the ’Sydhavnen’ school by JJW architects.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Outdoor play areas at ’Sydhavnen’ school by JJW architects.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Panum Institute building by C.F. Møller, currently under construction.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Tour of the unfinished building with Mads Mandrup Hansen – partner from C.F. Møller.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Killer views across Copenhagen from the Panum Institute building by C.F. Møller.
Photography © Nick Hughes/ Yellowtrace.

Day 02 started out with a super interesting tour by Arkitema architects, who used a drone (OMG – so cool!) to show us ’Sydhavnen’ – a new developing area south of the city. The drone tour revealed the large scale residential development which incorporates a man-made canal system, inspired by cities such as Amsterdam & Venice. This large-scale project commenced in 2000, with the first stage of residents moving into the area in 2008. Arkitema were the principal master planner for the project, with 15 different architecture firms hired to design the facades in the development, ensuring that homogenised approach to large scale developments was avoided. Genius!

Our second stop was the guided tour of the 3XN and GXN office, which was completely amazing, hence why I will share this with you in more detail in a separate post. You’re welcome.

Next stop – lunch at CPH Shelter, where traditional Danish lunch was served in a rustic setting in one of Copenhagen’s few remaining “secret” spots on the old B&W shipyard at the end of Christiansted Harbour. During lunch, we chatted to Frederik Noltenius Busck, the creator of CPH Shelter – a mobile home made from shipping containers, featuring a high quality level of finish (for a container home, that is).

Then onto a boat trip along Copenhagen harbour with Lars B. Lindeberg from JJW architects, who gave us a tour of the brand new primary school in ’Sydhavnen’. Lots of photos of this amazing school can be found in the gallery below. (Speaking of Architecture for Children, here’s something I prepared earlier.)

We also visited the new Panum Institute building, currently under construction, where Mads Mandrup Hansen – partner from C.F. Møller – gave us a guided tour. And yes, I did wear a sexy hard hat, high vis vest and steel cap boots, and no – there is no photo evidence of this, ok?

Our last stop for the day was the Sankt Annae Plads, where Holger Dahl from Schønherr spoke about their climate adaptation for the iconic street, currently under way.

So you see, we did and saw A LOT in just two days. With so much on my plate before and after this trip, there was no time to research this tour, hence why I went into it with very little expectations. Sometimes that’s the best way to be, although not my usual modus operandi. All I can say is – we better bloody get invited to the next event in two years time. Kidding. But not really. Anyway, see you there?