Architecture in Copenhagen – Voted the World’s Most Sustainable City
In 2021, Copenhagen was voted the world’s most sustainable city by TimeOut. Architects in this city are conscious of the types of resources they use in constructing new buildings, and they design new buildings to be climate resilient.
For example, the architects at BIG designed a waste-to-energy powerplant with a ski slope on its roof. Instead of burning coal or natural gas, this power plant converts 440,000 tons of waste into energy annually. In addition to the ski slope on the roof, the roof also has hiking trails, and the building has huge climbing walls along its sides. Because people gather at this building to socialize and exercise, the building also illustrates social responsibility.
Similarly, BIG also designed a unique affordable housing complex in Copenhagen called the Dortheavej Residence built in timber. Because the modules were prefabricated, they could be stacked on top of each other in the construction process, minimizing disruption in the neighborhood. Each home has full-height windows, allowing the residents to enjoy abundant natural light. The curvature of the building creates an entrance to a large secluded garden.
Copenhagen’s first sustainable structure was the Green Lighthouse, which opened in 2009. Because it’s carbon neutral, it was the first building in the country to earn the LEED Gold rating. Drawing inspiration from a sundial, architects and engineers collaborated to design this green cylindrical structure. With its inclined roof, it can concentrate energy from the sun and heat the interior of the building in winter. It is able to cut its use of energy by approximately 70% by creating its own energy supply, utilizing the sun’s energy, the city’s district heating, and heat pumps. The building is also capable of storing hot water heated by the sun’s rays. Additionally, the building includes natural ventilation and an automatic heating and cooling system. Vast open rooms are lit by morning sunlight, further reducing energy consumption. This building can be found on the campus of The University of Copenhagen.
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