We’re big fans of Steven Holl Architects here at Archiblog. And with their latest design, it’s easy to see why. The two towers won the international design competition for ‘The LM Project and will form an iconic landmark on the waterfront of Copenhagen’s harbour.
The building’s are joined by a walkway 65 metres above the harbour to create both an impressive aesthetic from the harbour and stunning views from both the bridge that spans the harbour entrance and the various viewing platforms on the buildings themselves. The bridges meet with a handshake halfway across, uniting both sides of the city.
The towers carry the two bridges at two different orientations which meet over the harbour. The buildings offer 360º views of the city and their shapes respond directly to the history of each site, making each tower unique in their own right, but also work as one connecting the two sides of Copenhagen’s harbour.
The project also features a variety of environmentally friendly features. Both towers feature high performance glass curtainwalls with a veil of solar screen made of photovoltaics which generate electricity whilst shading the building. Seawater is used to both heat and cool the building and natural ventilation is provided on every floor. There is an array of wind turbines that line the top of the walkway which provides all the power needed to illuminate the public spaces at night.
A superb project.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Actually theres nothing on this project worth been seen. Nothing. If you saw it once then you should just try your best to forget it. Its just a sign of what you can do when you dont know how to use technology. That bridge, far from useless, how does it work? It damages the landscape completely, for no apparent reason. The thing that worries me more about architecture these days is that people seem to think a nice render, which is not the case actually, will do you a project. Image means nothing if theres no content to be seen. Its actually a problem with many projects here at WA. Theres this amazing at the image, at the formal image. Logorithms, for instance, mean nothing for architecture if just a nice facade is seen. Couple of ugly towers with a bridge in between is nothing of a beautiful gesture. Even if it was, it would just be a simplist way of approaching art, art with no content, no meaning and in this case, for no space. Id like to see a section of that project. Right now I just couldnt be more amazed at this wonderful comments to this … image.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
An interesting viewpoint Luis.I’m afraid I have to disagree with you though.
Most harbours are pretty ugly places, usually remnants from the days where shipping by sea was far more commonplace, and these towers will do nothing but enhance the area.
It also takes a lot more than a nice render to win architectural competitions. There needs to be a reason behind your design, it needs to respond and reflect the brief as well the surroundings. It needs to have function as well as form and ultimately needs to serve a purpose.
Whether you like the design or not, these buildings tick all of those boxes.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Thanks for your response. My opinion is never based on liking or not though. I agree drawing on harbour is never easy, though classifying it as ugly is rather subjective. But I do respect all opinions as far as people believe them. Its a nice work your doing here in the blog. Ill make sure ill drop in every now and then. And leave my comment as well. All the best, keep up the good work.
November 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
we like a bit of discourse here at Archiblog and strongly encourage our readers to air their opinion on an item, be it positive or negative!
Thanks for the comments Luis, and we hope to see you again here at Archiblog
January 1st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
zv3Ps9 Thanks for good post
January 4th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
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January 4th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
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