Towering nearly 200 feet above the docks, the Tip of Nordø rises as a new contemporary beacon at the Freeport of Copenhagen. The office volume is distinguished by a circular form in homage to the area’s transformed silos and industrial heritage. Also conceived as an embodiment of democratic principles, the functional design by Danish practices Cobe, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, and Third Nature is based on annual, hour-by-hour weather simulations to strategically position all 925 faceted facade elements to reduce solar gain. “Standing where the harbor opens and the horizon feels infinite, we wanted the facade to reflect the sky, the sea and the city,” says Vilhelm Lauritzen partner and architect Malte Rosenquist. “Our ambition was to create a meeting place that felt calming and inviting, connecting people to each other and to surrounding context.”
Reflecting the surrounding Nordhavn neighborhood, the textural glass facade exudes a warm, welcoming expression across a large scale complementary to that of the harbor. In addition to external facets lowering energy consumption, a diffuse skylight imbues optimal natural lighting conditions across the central atrium, which is anchored by a verdant interior public garden at its center. “With a public winter garden placed at the centre of the building, we wanted to invite people all the way to the tip. As a modern lighthouse and new landmark at the entrance to Copenhagen’s harbor, the building is meant to be an open, welcoming place for both the local community and the wider city,” Rosenquist adds.
Each of the 14 floors are tripartitioned with three cores as the points of division, creating dual workspaces and a dedicated area for communal activity. “The circular shape creates the impression of a structure without a backside and supports the idea of a democratic workspace where everyone enjoys equal access to daylight, views, and the horizon,” Rosenquist says, “in contrast to the traditional corner offices that are seen as the best spots.”
