Living Places Copenhagen, Denmark

Natural aesthetic

The vision behind the project is to lead the way in the building industry and show how “rethinking buildings” can help solve some of the global climate and health challenges. The concept is based on five key principles that aim to make homes that are healthy, adaptive, simple, shared over time, and scalable and become guidelines for both new constructions and established communities.

Sustainability Practices

The project is located in the Railway District in Copenhagen and demonstrates how to build homes with a CO2 footprint of 3.85 kg/CO2/m2/, and an overall cost that matches the market price for a one-family house or a small-scale rowhouse. Additionally, strong emphasis is placed on creating healthy indoor climate using daylight and fresh air. As a part of the project, a complete Life Cycle Assessment was carried out, thus carefully considering and evaluating each material, design and building technique in terms of the emissions they project compared to a typical Danish household.

Spatial Layout

The structure features a vernacular, contemporary form and is developed in two levels. The ground floor is designed in an open-plan layout that includes a living and dining area as well as a kitchen. A wooden staircase leads to the upper floor where the master bedroom is located. The house is placed on a public, wooden deck that offers ample space for walking and relaxation and is planted with low vegetation.

Materials & Furniture

The material selection is primarily based on sustainability and passive-house design principles. Light timber is used throughout the residence to clad the floors, walls and ceilings as well as the structure’s exterior. Large openings and skylights placed in the double-height space allow an abundance of natural light to enter the building, while a series of minimally designed furniture complete the cozy interior atmosphere.