johansen skovsted transforms courtyard to community area in copenhagen

the ‘nørrehus’ project by danish practice johansen skovsted arkitekter, sees the transformation of a common courtyard into a community orientated space in copenhagen. the design aims to change the use of the area from being purely utilitarian, to providing a leisure and community based function for the residents. the first stage dealt with all the surfaces, including new planting and the creation of a playground. the second phase entailed the construction of a structure to house shared facilities such as, room for prams, the housekeeper, and waste and recycling.

image © johansen skovsted (also main image)

the design by the architect retains the previously paved areas, therefore, maintaining the original contours of the courtyard, but with a new outline. this contrast between straight and curved lines creates an interesting narrative between old and new. the existing polluted urban ground has been used to create the hilly landscape covered with topsoil, and traversed by two diagonal paths in oversized standard concrete slabs connecting the different functions of the courtyard.

image © rasmus norlander

an existing glass covered steel structure is enclosed by a new wooden frame turned inside out, exposing the structural members and making the form reminiscent of a garden pavilion rather than a garbage shed. the workshop roof opens towards the sky through a standard circular skylight, exposing a beam for suspending machines for reparation. alterations to the structure add variation to the volume. a recess creates a cover in front of the room for prams. the side facing the courtyard is clad in mirrors with espaliers, expanding the experience of the green landscape and meaning the new intervention sits well within the surroundings.