Get to know some exciting buildings with astonishing backgrounds
Some visit Copenhagen just to be inspired by outstanding architecture. And 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. Read on.
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
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 Africa 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
The petrol station in Skovshoved
At Skodshoved Harbor north of Copenhagen there is a unique petrol station. In fact, It was built in 1936 in the Funkis style according to drawings by Arne Jacobsen.
It still serves its purpose with petrol sales, but inside the building ice cream and burgers are served. The station was renovated back in 2002.
Kystvejen 24
The buildings with the unusual chimneys
Just outside Copenhagen you will find an abandoned airbase. Scattered in nature just close to the runway, you can’t miss several strange, massive concrete buildings with really odd chimneys. Indeed, they are actually hangars for storing F-16 warplanes. And still the buildings are in very good condition.
You can get here via S-train from the city (Måløv Station).
Værløse Air Base, Sandet 91
The red house
Artist Thomas Dambo (also known for his large wooden trolls) and a number of volunteers created this house together in a few days. It is made entirely of recycled material from the nearby recycling station.
The house can be used freely and there is both a barbecue area and a pizza oven available.
Borgervænget Genbrugsstation
The smallest house in Copenhagen
This is said to be Copenhagen’s smallest house. And strangely enough, there is actually nothing more exciting than that to tell about it. Because usually when it comes to older buildings, there is usually some interesting anecdote or maybe a celebrity who lived here back in the day, but no, not in this little yellow house.
Sølvgade 32
Metropol Building
The Metropol building is a rare example of Art Nouveau in Copenhagen. The building was formerly a cinema but ceased as such in 1980.
Fredriksberggade 16 (Strøget)
H/F Frederikshøj
An interesting area where small simple houses are really close together and their design breathes creativity and personal freedom. You navigate around the area thanks to a number of footpaths. The green well-grown hedges along the plot boundaries mean that the view to the houses is somewhat limited.
So take a bike ride out here and walk around and enjoy the tranquility and the alternative way of living.
Frederikshøj (just close to Sydhavn)
Carlsberg Lighthouse
In 1882, J.C. Jacobsen’s brewery Carlsberg got electric light, which happened at a time when it was not yet widespread in Copenhagen. As the brewery was located at the top of the high Valby Bakke, it was decided to combine the guard building with a real lighthouse. And it still stands here, despite the fact that the surrounding buildings are in many cases significantly higher. Today, an international art gallery is housed in the premises.
Løvenborg
Copenhagens probably most interesting house built in Art Nouveau style. The large windows facing the street were built, for the first time in Denmark, with the so-called curtain wall technology, where glass and window frames make up the load-bearing part. The country’s first elevator was also in the building.
Also, In 2003, it was awarded the “European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage”.
Vesterbrogade 34
The Glyptotheque on New Carlsberg
Most of us who visit Copenhagen find our way to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
But the first Glyptotek was in a completely different place in the city. Yes, actually in a private villa where the brewery’s founder J.C. Jacobsen lived.
Valby Langgade 1
Nyborggade transformerstation
A transformer station from 1960. And this particular one is unique given that the materials used are significantly cheaper than most others. And precisely in the 60s, the prices for materials increased significantly, so it was with great curiosity that the architect here took on the task.
I still think it feels really exciting even though many years have passed.
Nyborggade 13
The house on the roof
I caught sight of this house just recently. And the fact that I haven’t seen it before is probably due to its location. And it’s not very big either, only 60 square meters in total. However the view from that height must be just outstanding.
The corner of Gl. Kongevej and Tullinsgade
Brumleby
Due to the cholera epidemic in 1853, the medical association collected private money to make a change. They wanted to create healthy, affordable housing for the working class.
When the construction work was completed, there were 550 apartments in Brumleby, housing approx. 2,500 people.
In the 60s, the municipality tried to replace the buildings but was met with strong protests.
Read more about this unique housing project here.
Brumleby 1-228
Favnbrændehuset
The house in the picture is a modern version of the former building that stood here since 1799. Firewood was thus piled up and formed the frame of the house.
The space could be used for storage and a gazebo.
Søndermarken
The floating playground
Not far from Christianina is this somewhat unusual playground. Yes, due to lack of space, they have simply placed it high between two buildings!
Prinsessegade 76
CPH Village Nørrebro
So what is this? A residential complex right next to the railway, built from various modules. And its execution is imaginative to say the least. Students live here, well at least until they turn 30.
Banevingen 20
The old archive
And what is this? An old archive building from the 60s with characteristic inward-sloping and closed facades covered with black slate. The building is said to be empty now, so one wonders how long it will remain. Designed by Eva and Nils Koppel.
Hiort Lorenzens Gade
