Rådhus Hjortespring city hall
Hjortespring city hall
Hjortespring city hall
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Hjortespring

open city hall

A simple and sculptural pavilion in a garden, was the main inspiration for our competition proposal for the new city hall, Hjortespring, in the Municipality of Herlev just outside Copenhagen. A quiet and poetic house that, with its simple expression, appears both calm and distinct in the surrounding city. The simple structure of repetitions on the façade, along with the distinct main entrance, create a house that is open and inviting. The building is a space for possibilities. A flexible structure that accommodates different wants, needs and uses. It is a place that is future-proof and provides room for opportunities.

The location of the city hall, the transparency to the surroundings and the inner garden connect the outside and the inside. With this proposal, we have created an architectural frame of high quality. The city hall is a comfortable place to work and an accommodating environment, where citizens can safely make enquiries. It is a house that embraces nature and that, because of its scale, materiality and atmosphere, creates an open and welcoming ambience. It is a city hall for all.

The city hall has a clear distinction between public, semi-public and restricted areas. Our clear structuring of the building means that citizens can use a large part of the city hall’s functions both during and after opening hours. At the same time, employees can work safely and without being interrupted.

The clear communication of the building’s functions is already noticeable when approaching the city hall, where the main entrance is clearly marked. Furthermore, the inside of the building is clearly structured, and the material clearly points out the common areas in the lounge. The warm glow of the tree on the walls contributes to a homely and calm, warm atmosphere.

In the project, we have developed a concept that addresses SGDs 10: Reduced Inequalities, 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, 15: Life on Land, and 3: Good Health and Well-Being. In our process, we have screened how initiatives in the project contribute to the SDGs. The design is focused on openness and transparency to the building and the surroundings. The many windows provide the house with natural lighting and create an inviting atmosphere for citizens. This strengthens local participation in decision-making. The building has only one level, which secures equal access for all citizens while also providing easy access to the many green areas of the city hall. The green areas serve as hangout spots for employees, citizens and local biodiversity. The employees’ easy access to greenery and our focus on comfortable materials and furniture inside the house create a good and homely work environment.

Client
Herlev municipality
Area
1750 m²
Year
2019
Location
Herlev, Denmark
Collaborators
BNS, Norconsult