Get to know some cool buildings with a breathtaking background
Some visit Copenhagen to be inspired by outstanding architecture. The most famous buildings are easy to find, But there should probably be more unknown buildings that still shine a little? So I found a number of them that caught my interest, and just had to find out more.
Osram House
This is the former headquarters of the Osram company. It was one of the first buildings to be built using the shock concrete method. Shock concrete is a way to remove water to make it even stronger. The architect saw endless possibilities for spectacular buildings using this new technique, but wanted to work more restrictively. Built in 1952-53.
Valhalsgade 4
Linoleum House
This quite anonymous house was built in 1931and Its name comes from the resemblance to the linoleum flooring of the time. However the architect´s inspiration was found in the venetian style.
Åboulevard 84-86
The Balloon Hangar
Away by Islands Brygge you will find this strange building with a very large gate. Nowdays it is used as a riding hall, but was built by the military back in 1917 to store large balloons.
Artillerivej 73
Badeanstalten København
Now it is a fashionable hotel but long before it was a modern bathhouse. The concept was taken from Sweden and introduced to the Copenhageners in 1903.
If you look up in front of the building, you can see the word “renlighed” (cleanliness) high up on the facade. Inside the hotel there are still traces of the time when this was a temple of cleanliness.
Studiestræde 59-63
Zeppelinerhallen
This building originally comes from Germany. Because after WW1 restrictions were imposed on arms production and the hall was dismantled and sent to Denmark. To sum up, the facade has been changed to better suit the requirements of today and now it looks more like a modern building.
Islands Brygge 55
Culture Tower on Knippels Bridge
The tower is a unique building and also a culture cafe unknown to many. In fact, here in the tower you can have your coffee, eat healthy food, see exhibitions and listen to a lecture. Live music also occurs. All with a spectacular 360 view of the canal. The tower was built in 1937 and has never before been regularly open to the public. Get updated info at their website.
Knippelsbro 2
Onkel Toms Hytte
This is a rather strange house. In short, it has been moved a few times, and its unique shape, only 3 meters wide allowed it to sway in strong winds!
Also Some rumor claims that the house was on the grounds of the Tivoli in 1905 for a colonial exhibition. Moreover, in the house two children from the Danish West Indies were kept for public viewing. Here you can read about one of the children’s fates.
Bjerregårdsvej 15
The round houseboat at Kalvebod Brygge
A beautiful example of a spectacular house on water. And its exclusive location among modern buildings makes it even more interesting.
Kalvebod Brygge
The Yellow Palace
This is far more than just a another yellow palace. In fact, it is financed by the slave trade. The palace was built in 1764-67 by the slave trader Frederik Bargum. And like the other colonial powers, he bought slaves from the kings inland and shipped them to the West Indies, where they were sold to the sugar plantations on all the Caribbean islands.
Amaliegade 18
The floating church
In Sydhavn there is a rather unusual houseboat. Actually it is a church anchored in the canal. And churchgoers have to walk across the gangway when mass is called. So we have to hope there aren’t too big waves that day.
By the way, You can learn more about Sydhavn here.
Abel Nobels Bro, Sydhavn
The house with a tree through the roof
Over at christiania there is this strange house. So aware of the tree’s inner power has probably led the homeowner to let it live on in harmony with man.
Christiania, the path along the water, south side, near Øresundsmiljøskolen
Østre Gasværk Teater
Formerly just Gasværket, a Danish theater housed in the closed Gasværk on Østerbro in Copenhagen. The theater hall is located in the round brick shell, which housed the old gas tank until 1979, and is one of Copenhagen’s most magnificent theater rooms.
Nyborggade 17
Konsistoriehuset
This house is one of the oldest preserved buildings in Copenhagen – perhaps even the oldest. In fact, it is dated back to around 1420. The Konsistoriehuset escaped unscathed through both the Copenhagen fire in 1728 and the English bombardment in 1807. Nowadays, the building is used as a meeting room for the board of the University of Copenhagen.
To see the house you have to go through the big gate at Frue Plads. The gate is open on weekdays.
University of Copenhagen, Frue Plads
