D o r t e
M a n d r u p
A r c h i t e c t s
A p S .
C l i e n t ,
G e n t o f t e
M u n i c i p a l i t y
a n d
D o m e a
Conversion
The existing water tower was built in the fifties and consists
of a large scale structure with twelve concrete columns on
t o w e r
the periphery and six on the inside. Besides carrying the
In 2004 Dorte Mandrup Architects won a competition to convert the Jægersborg Water Tower
into a mixed-use building comprising a youth centre and small apartments. On the upper floors
of the tower, residential units are laid out along the perimeter of the structure leaving the
centre to function as a common space and storage units. Each residential unit is formally
expressed by a protruding crystal-like bay window bringing light deep into the apartment and
offering unobstructed views to the surrounding landscape. Together, the bay window and balconies add new sculptural layers that underscore the distinctive character of the tower. On the
lower floors, the youth centre is divided into large multi-purpose rooms for free movement and
adaptability. Large patterned windows surround the youth centre with the doors on the ground
floor creating an open-ended adaptable concept.
water tank the columns also serve as a load bearing
system for nine floors of 15 cm concrete. A complex geometric star-shaped pattern of concrete beams between the
columns reinforces the floors. The existing floors where used
for storage and were mostly empty whilst after-school
recreation had taken place on the ground floor.
Architectural analysis
The Jægersborg water tower is a characteristic architectonic
element: 12 columns and a huge round water tank. Between
the columns a floor plan appears. The red water tank with
w a t e r
the cone shaped roof, and weathercock on top give it a
strong identity and a striking architectonic form.
During the whole conversion, the office of Dorte Mandrup
insisted in keeping the tower as a landmark. The large scale
of the columns and tank together with the smaller scale
window frames, articulated the new function of the building.
The repetition of the window frames and the crystal structure accomplish a relation between the large scale of the
water tank and columns on the one hand and the more
human scale of the new additions on the other hand.
The main idea of Dorte Mandrup was to express continuity
through preserving the original structure with the water tank
on top along with the character of the twelve peripheral
columns.
1 Facade, photo Torben Eskerod
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2 Bay window and balcony
photo Torben Eskerod
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On the other hand the addition of a new structure with a smaller scale related to the human
body was also an important aim. The different materials for the different functions have been
chosen in such a way so that they create harmony between the three different functions of the
tower.
Organisation of the building
A leisure centre is situated on the first three floors. The internal organisation of the centre
provides different uses. Every floor can be used separately. The ground floor has a flexible
space and can be used for different physical activities such as indoor ball games or disco.
Windows from floor to ceiling provide a lot of daylight inside the ground floor. Large doors give
access to the space outside. The second floor is used as mini club and on the third floor
administration takes place. From the 4th floor until the 8th floor the 36 youth apartments are
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situated. An elevator gives access to the dwellings. Beside the elevator the original stairs are in
use in case of emergency.
The water tank on top of the dwellings is still in use.
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3 Floor plan, second floor
4 Floor plan, 7th floor
5 Basic formation principle of
the apartment
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6 Volume concept diagram
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7 Close up bay window,
photo Torben Eskerod
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8 Apartment type A
9 Apartment type B
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10 Interior with sanitary block
and bed on top, photo Jens Lindhe
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11 Interior with window bay
photo Jens Lindhe
The dwellings
sun in afternoon.
The conversion of the tower is made possible mainly due to the heavy
structure, the height of the ceiling and the free plan.
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But on the
Space and experience
other hand the complex geometry of the structure demanded clever
The generous height of the ceiling is used to create various spaces in
solutions. The dwellings of respectively 32 m2 and 36 m2 are distrib-
the dwellings. The small floor area again asked for a clever solution.
uted over five storeys. On the 4th, the 6th and the 8th floor, common
To create as much free space as possible, all utility functions are
spaces with a balcony are placed. Two dwellings for the disabled are
concentrated in one large service box-like unit. The bath, kitchen,
situated on the 4th and the 5th floor and on the 8th floor a common
wardrobe, and a small workspace are all placed in this box shaped
laundry is placed. These different spaces all together solve the prob-
element. To create even more space, a solution for a place to sleep
lem of the geometry. A central space showing the original concrete
is found in the vertical axis by situating the bed on top of the big
structure, gives access to the dwellings.
box. The place of the box together with the bay window, defines the
A crystal shaped bay window provides extra space in the small dwell-
shape of the space. In spite of the small floor area, the office of
ings, supplies maximum daylight and a splendid view of the surround-
Dorte Mandrup succeeded in making interesting spaces for the young
ings namely Copenhagen, North Sjaelland and even the coast of South
inhabitants. A whole array of different spatial experiences takes place,
Sweden. The triangle or square shaped bay window's extend the
from a more open one close to the window, via the more enclosed
existing areas in to furnishable spaces. The three balconies are orien-
space inside the dwelling to the most intimate space on top of the
tated so that one has morning sun, one has midday sun and one has
box.
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Acoustics
One of the biggest problems of the site is the high sound level.
Due to the motorway the DB level on the outside of the façade
is 76 dB (A). A 2.5 meter high fence placed along the highway
provides a good view but does not cut enough sound, so they
decided to develop a special façade for this project. A laminated
layered window system cuts off 30 dB. This system at the same
time provides ventilation for the dwellings. Internal sound insulation is created by adding a cork layer with linoleum finishing on
top of the 15 cm concrete floor. In the hall and staircases sound
absorbing material is placed to avoid any resonance.
Materiality
The materiality of the leisure centre as well as of the dwellings is
inspired by the idea of expressing the original rough construction.
At the same time the materiality of the project should show the
addition of new functions. The closed parts of the leisure centre
are covered with a kind of compressed Rockwool cladding. The
texture of the Rockwool fits well with the texture of the concrete
columns. The Crystal shaped bay windows of the youth apartments are aluminium cladding. This cladding reflects by day and
night the light of the environment. So the shining small crystals
contrast with the huge red coloured water tank on top of the
building and so expressing living with oceans of water above you.
The Jægersborg Water tower project is a good example of the
use of left over spaces in industrial buildings as a strategy for
Time-based architecture. The mixed programs or so called hybrid
buildings makes this possible. The addition of the dwellings does
not only add space but also time to the old building. The new
functions give the tower an extended existence.
12 Fragment of the facade,
photo Torben Eskerod
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13 Water tower in Spring,
photo Jens Lindhe
Bernard Leupen
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[Experimental housing projecton an open space in Nørrebro]
F O R T H
4 ,
C h r i s t i a n
C l i e n t ,
R e a l e a
A / S
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F .
W .
D a l s d o r f
a n d
M a j a
A s a a
The Boase project is the result of the design competition The Future Home, a competition
focusing on sustainability and accessibility. Students from the Aarhus School of Architecture,
Denmark's Design school, Design school Kolding, and the Royal academy of fine arts, School of
Architecture where invited to take part in the competition. Six multidisciplinary workgroups did
an entry. In 2005 a 1:1 mock up of one house was built on the site of the Royal Academy of
Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen.
The BOASE housing project takes as its starting point the present-day environmental problem of
our towns and cities including a large number of sites, which, despite their attractive location,
are unusable owing to, environmental and soil contamination. The aim is to make these contaminated sites accessible and habitable by planting trees, which decontaminate the soil with
their rootstock.
Among the trees homes will be built on tall, slender columns—or stilts. The homes will be
constructed in a lightweight design featuring transparent facades, and the soil will get lots of
light, thereby promoting the growth of the trees and plants. It will be like living in a forest in
the middle of town—an urban oasis.
The housing units in BOASE are bunched into smallish clusters, interlinked by a network of
catwalks. The catwalks all terminate in a shared terrace and between clusters there are collective rooms and shared facilities. BOASE will make it possible to rent a smallish unit with the
option of extending the private living area with part of a communal room. The idea is that the
type of accommodation can be instrumental in creating a social affiliation and open the way
for communal interaction that cuts across conventional patterns. This style of living appeals
particularly to young people and mobile individuals who need accommodation for a relatively
short period of their lives.
1 Mock up at the school of architecture
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100 percent recycling
Settlement is a process where the results of research on sustainability
BOASE was sketched and designed by the Force4 drawing office,
are tested. In time the settlement will grow and spread over the
collaboration between two architects and two designers. Force4 expects
ground like the branches of a tree. Its growth is not planned because
it to take ten years to decontaminate the soil. After that, the area can
it is a result of various conditions; the cleaning of the soil, the growth
be used for other purposes and the accommodation can remain on
of the plants and the surrounding buildings. The forest consists of
site or be relocated to another area, where it can be used to the
species from the original Danish forest: Oak and alder are planted in
benefit of a similar process. All materials in the buildings can be
groups as the permanent elements of the forest. They grow slowly and
re-used.
give the place character. Willow and poplar cleans the soil and cover
By transforming contaminated urban areas the settlement takes back
the surface. Willow and poplar grow quick, therefore every 4.th year
inaccessible land. For people living a life of different approaches to
they are cut down, so their roots constantly are kept active and
work, place and privacy, an offer to a certain life-situation that can
cleaning.
become valid for all sorts of people. A process that commits the
The place is an oasis in the city. In the urban context the forest
inhabitant starts; the profit of their community makes the place grow.
becomes a structuring element that provides identity to its surround-
Contaminated urban areas are made useful again by cleansing the
ings and serves as a navigation point. In the forest the hectic life of
polluted soil with trees. Plants with powerful roots can fixate or elimi-
the city is put in perspective. The changing of the seasons transforms
nate pollution in the soil. 14.000 estates in Denmark are polluted from
the place, the dwelling and the people. The trees tell a story of
oil or chemicals of which 148 are in Copenhagen alone. They are all a
another rhythm - a slower rhythm. The urban forest re-establishes the
danger to environment and health.
respectful relation between man and nature.
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2 Dwelling section
3 Floor plan of three dwellings
and common space
4 Site plan of the BOASE project
5 Mock up at the school of architecture
seen from the common space
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Nomad dwelling
The private unit as a frame
In modern society people of all ages are more likely to live as
The private unit is a prefabricated industrially
nomads. Life is lived as a series of events and phases. You work,
optimized product. Thought as a piece of furni-
you marry, you travel, you live alone, you study, you remarry….
ture and shaped to accommodate the human
Movement and mobility are fundamental parts of life that lead to
body. Form-moulded plant-fibre plates cover the
more temporary relations to people and places. Intimacy and
inner walls of the frame. The staircase binds the
sensuality are important elements in a world where speed and
space together in a vertical movement. The
distance are facts of life.
dwelling is produced in a factory and transported
BOASE offers an alternative way of living. The spatial principles
to the building site as a unit. This way the
build on the duality of the static and the flexible. The private
traditional waste of resources is prevented and
dwelling is the static frame of the settlement. Several frames are
the dwelling can be easily dismantled and reused
composed to clusters and surround a communal area for each
or composted.
level. The communal area is the social heart of the settlement…
The kitchen is the energy-field of the frame. Here
Here social relations are strengthened, even though most inhabit-
you open up to the communal area and meet
ants live alone. These way new communities can grow on the
with others. A heated, soft floor invites the
basis of a strong feeling of membership and sustainable commit-
inhabitant to sit down. The bedroom is the
ment.
frames intimate space. It is small and cosy and
The realisation of BOASE contains four development-projects:
light floats in along an oblique wall opening. The
1.cleaning of the contaminated site (see illustration)
bathroom is hidden behind curved translucent
2.developing of solar-membrane
walls.
3.developing of energy-accumulating façade
The frame is furniture for living. Here you unfold
4.industrial optimization of the private dwelling
your personal belongings for a period of your
The outer façade is an energy-accumulating glass- facade with
life. The frame contains all necessary home
integrated semitransparent solar cells and temperature-regulating
functions to secure the inhabitants the option of
PCM-plates. The inner façade functions as both silencer and
privacy.
closet. It is a highly sound absorbing and the closet is accessible
also from the communal area. The private part of the dwelling
Bernard Leupen (ed)
has two facades. Both the inner- and outer facade of the private
dwelling can be individually composed with shutters. This gives a
great degree of spatial differences concerning light and view. To
the one side you watch the trees and green surroundings. To the
other you can open the dwelling and enlarge the private zone
into the communal area.
6 Interior of the empty mock up,
second floor
7 Interior of the empty mock-up,
ground floor
8 Mock up at the school of architecture,
window detail
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