bjarke ingels group / BIG architects studio visit

bjarke ingels group / BIG architects studio visit
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having visited bjarke ingels group / BIG architects original offices in 2011 (see our previous BIG studio visit feature here), designboom dropped by the internationally renowned firm’s new lofted studio in the district of valby, in the southwestern area of copenhagen. we took a tour of the industrial space that houses a large open plan catered to collaborative work, several glass enclosed meeting rooms for more private discussions and presentations, a canteen, numerous shelves with books and magazines which serve as a library of resources, and an extensive display of models that represent the prolific nature of BIG’s practice.

view of the main work space of bjarke ingels group’s studio, housed within a lofted industrial building
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founded in 2005, bjarke ingels has in eight short years become one of the world’s leading architects with ongoing projects in asia, europe, the middle east and north america. having won numerous competitions, most recently the ‘museum of the human body’ in montpellier, france, and currently standing in the final shortlist of others including the new ‘axel springer media campus’ in berlin, germany, the firm has established a reputation for challenging the traditional conventions of architecture by creating structural entities that speak of our constantly evolving contemporary world — utopian spaces that see leisure, living, parking, shopping and working merged into a single establishment — responding to cultural exchange and economic flows. 

rows of desks with computer stations are situated in the open workspace of bjarke ingels’s studio in valby, copenhagen
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surveying the firm’s portfolio of structural undertakings, it can be observed that each one is individual and does not speak of a systematic approach or particular style. from small scale schemes, like their 2012 ‘valentine’s day sculpture’ in times square, to more involved builds as evidenced in the now completed danish ‘national maritime museum’, bjarke ingels remains thoughtful of its projects’s contexts and outreach, offering built environments that while visually steering clear of the box-typology of architecture, maintain a relevance to our contemporary times, and which compel us to consider new notions of urban organization.

models for the danish ‘national maritime museum’
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see more about this project on designboom here

model of the ‘west 57’ residential project in new york city
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see more about this project on designboom here

detail of the sloping triangular structure that forms ‘west 57’
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internal courtyard facing units
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model for the ‘town hall of tallinn’ in estonia
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see more about this project on designboom here

the studio is filled with models of the firm’s large portfolio projects
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a wall displays a number of publications which BIG has been featured in
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LEGO towers
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general view into the lofted workspace
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model of the ‘8 house’ residential complex in copenhagen
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see more about this project here

a display of some of the awards the firm has received over the years
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entrance into the studio where a model of the ‘amagerforbraending ski slope incinerator’ sits
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see more about this project on designboom here

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