Competition winner
Rem Koolhaas OMA
Brewery Site
Copenhagen, Denmark
Rem Koolhaas/OMA unites theoretical practice with a playful, original and dialogue-oriented approach to architecture. These characteristics are also apparent in the firm’s think-tank AMO (the mirror image of OMA), whose urban planning work is typified by reflecting architecture in sociology, technology, politics and the media.
The jury
Photo courtesy Realdania
The Brewery Site is the last undeveloped site on the harbor front in the center of Copenhagen, and a close neighbor to the Royal Library “The Black Diamond.”
Rem Koolhaas/OMA was selected through an interview-based competition on the basis of architectonic vision, competence, qualifications of key employees and experience with comparable projects.
The building will house the Danish Architecture Center, a bookshop and café, as well as offices and residential units. The Realdania Foundation will occupy a smaller portion of the building. New public spaces and a playground will be included in the scheme.
”We hope to assemble a number of activities within the building and that the building will generate more life in the neighbourhood around the Brewery Site to help to strengthen the neighbourhood as an active connection between the city and the harbor.”
Flemming Borreskov
CEO of the Realdania Foundation.
Realdania wanted to select the architect and not a project first. The advantage of this untraditional approach being that the architect, in collaboration with Realdania and other consultants, can play an active role in programming the overall project.
The selection of contractor and engineer will follow the same interview-based principles.
Koolhaas will prepare a concept plan for the building design and content with the other consultants and contractors.
The OMA team in Copenhagen will be led by partners Rem Koolhaas and Ellen van Loon.
Rem Koolhaas OMA arcspace features
June 26, 2006