Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
Location: Bistrupvej, Birkerød, Denmark
Client: Birkerød Municipality
Ingeneering: Moe & Brødsgaard Consulting Engineers
Construction Year: 2005-2008
Constructed Area: 9,200 sqm / New build 8,000 sqm - Refurbishment: 1,200 sqm
Photographs: SHL
This newly completed sports and leisure complex has a distinctive,
sculptural quality, further enhanced by the building’s essential
transparency. The building’s organic curves echo the undulating
landscape of its surroundings.
The complex is designed to be multi-functional and includes a large
multi-purpose hall (2,300 m2) with enough space to accommodate two
handball courts with accompanying mobile spectator stands, as well as a
V.I.P. lounge. There are two additional smaller allowing the complex to
accommodate major sporting events, concerts and other cultural events,
as well as school sporting events and small, local sports initiatives
requiring more intimate settings.
The new centre is located adjacent to existing football pitches and
the old public swimming baths, both of which have received investment -
a new grandstand for the football pitch and larger swimming baths.
The building’s façades have been decorated by the Danish artist
Astrid Krog and is an example of the close collaboration between artist
and architect that is often to be found in the work of the practice.
Black circles form interlinking patterns when the louvres are closed -
the translucent cladding bringing a glowing quality to the natural
daylight filtering through to the interior spaces. The façades were
developed especially for this building project and have since been
honoured by inclusion in the Danish Ministry of Culture’s Canon for
Design and Craft Art.
Facade System
Designed for the Sports and Leisure Centre in Birkerød in close
association with Fiberline Composites (the manufacturers of the
materials used), the façade system represents an innovative façade
solution, simply constructed of materials characterized by
high-strength properties, and presenting an elegant appearance. The
structure consists of panels of a composite material, popularly known
as glass fibre, which is very strong and can be made to very thin
specifications. Moreover the composite can be glued to the glazing
without the use of clunky mullions and tran-soms or the occurrence of
friction between glass and frame. In the composite frame, vertical
louvres can be drawn to one side, locked into the open or closed
position, and so regulate light. And into these louvres, also made of
composite material, various elements may be integrated.
