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Competition winners
Lundgaard & Tranberg
Royal Theater Playhouse
Copenhagen, Denmark

Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg

The competition for the new Playhouse for the Royal Theater was recently won by Danish architects Boje Lundgaard and Lene Tranberg. The competition brief called for two theaters, a large “Stage” with seating for 750 and a smaller “Stage” with seating for 275, and all the necessary functions related to the theaters. A restaurant and a café, to operate independently, were included in the program.

Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg

The buildings placement and square plan compliments the neighbouring building blocks and, at the same time, opens the city towards the harbour; extending the long promenade that runs along the Copenhagen waterfront. The small “Stage” and rehearsal rooms are separated from other functions by a long glass covered slit in the roof that admits daylight into the center of the building. The large “Stage” is cut free at roof level to allow for daylight to enter the building through the glass covered skylights, and to reflect the interior lights up towards the tower at night.

Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg

The exterior of the building is clad in copper; integrating the stage tower in the Copenhagen skyline of copper domes and spires. The glass enclosed top level houses the administrative offices, the canteen and all other services. At night the transparent top level will act as a symbol signalling the building is in-use.

Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg

The main entrance is reached from the “Theater Plaza”, a floating concrete platform that is both an outdoor Foyer and a Promenade, making the arrival an event. Bands of glass covered lights, set in the concrete platform, illuminates the parking below and, at the same time, serve as directional arrows in the evening. A row of copper clad pavilions provide access to the parking areas and the public restrooms. The “Theater Plaza” will provide an area for many Copenhagen events, outdoor circus, jazz festivals, flee markets etc., while also serving as an outdoor theater behind the smaller “Stage”.

Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg

In the airy eight meter high Foyer, with wide stairs leading to the balcony and the different levels, the theaters take on a sculptural appearance. The transition between the Foyer and the “Stages” is marked by a glass band in the floor that shows the reflection in the water below when illuminated at night.

Besides providing access to the theaters and ticket booths the Foyer is imagined as a “public room” for promenaders and visitors to the café and restaurant which both have inspiring views towards the harbour and city.

In contrast to the copper, glass and concrete exterior the interior uses a variation of materials. On the Foyer side the theaters will be clad in metal panels but, once inside, each theater will have a different appearance. The large “Stage” will have a formal look with dark veneer panelling and chairs covered in china red velour, the smaller “Stage” will have the appearance of a workshop or experimental theater. Other walls will be covered in smooth concrete panels. The concrete floor in the Foyer, an extension of the exterior “Theater Plaza”, will have a sanded and waxed finish in contrast to the exterior coarse non-skid surface. On the top level the floors will be blond wood.

The hierarchy of openings, from the extensive transparent glass facades towards the harbour to the narrow slits and translucent glass walls towards the city, creates an exciting and inviting interior.

Construction start is scheduled for Summer 2004 with an expected completion in 2007.

Total Area: 18,000 square meters

Architects:
Bøje Lundgaard & Lene Tranberg

Team:
Architects MAA
Nicolai Richter-Friis
Henrik Schmidt
Kenneth Warnke
Lene Wiell

Engineer: Oluf Jørgensen A/S v/Jens Gandrup Jørgensen
Acoustics: Bo Mortensen

July 1, 2002





				Features
		Competition winners Lundgaard & Tranberg Royal Theater Playhouse Copenhagen, Denmark Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg The competition for the new Playhouse for the Royal Theater was recently won by Danish architects Boje Lundgaard and Lene Tranberg. The competition brief called for two theaters, a large “Stage” with seating for 750 and a smaller “Stage” with seating for 275, and all the necessary functions related to the theaters. A restaurant and a café, to operate independently, were included in the program. Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg The buildings placement and square plan compliments the neighbouring building blocks and, at the same time, opens the city towards the harbour; extending the long promenade that runs along the Copenhagen waterfront. The small “Stage” and rehearsal rooms are separated from other functions by a long glass covered slit in the roof that admits daylight into the center of the building. The large “Stage” is cut free at roof level to allow for daylight to enter the building through the glass covered skylights, and to reflect the interior lights up towards the tower at night. Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg The exterior of the building is clad in copper; integrating the stage tower in the Copenhagen skyline of copper domes and spires. The glass enclosed top level houses the administrative offices, the canteen and all other services. At night the transparent top level will act as a symbol signalling the building is in-use. Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg The main entrance is reached from the “Theater Plaza”, a floating concrete platform that is both an outdoor Foyer and a Promenade, making the arrival an event. Bands of glass covered lights, set in the concrete platform, illuminates the parking below and, at the same time, serve as directional arrows in the evening. A row of copper clad pavilions provide access to the parking areas and the public restrooms. The “Theater Plaza” will provide an area for many Copenhagen events, outdoor circus, jazz festivals, flee markets etc., while also serving as an outdoor theater behind the smaller “Stage”. Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg Image courtesy Lundgaard & Tranberg In the airy eight meter high Foyer, with wide stairs leading to the balcony and the different levels, the theaters take on a sculptural appearance. The transition between the Foyer and the “Stages” is marked by a glass band in the floor that shows the reflection in the water below when illuminated at night. Besides providing access to the theaters and ticket booths the Foyer is imagined as a “public room” for promenaders and visitors to the café and restaurant which both have inspiring views towards the harbour and city. In contrast to the copper, glass and concrete exterior the interior uses a variation of materials. On the Foyer side the theaters will be clad in metal panels but, once inside, each theater will have a different appearance. The large “Stage” will have a formal look with dark veneer panelling and chairs covered in china red velour, the smaller “Stage” will have the appearance of a workshop or experimental theater. Other walls will be covered in smooth concrete panels. The concrete floor in the Foyer, an extension of the exterior “Theater Plaza”, will have a sanded and waxed finish in contrast to the exterior coarse non-skid surface. On the top level the floors will be blond wood. The hierarchy of openings, from the extensive transparent glass facades towards the harbour to the narrow slits and translucent glass walls towards the city, creates an exciting and inviting interior. Construction start is scheduled for Summer 2004 with an expected completion in 2007. Total Area: 18,000 square meters Architects: Bøje Lundgaard & Lene Tranberg Team: Architects MAA Nicolai Richter-Friis Henrik Schmidt Kenneth Warnke Lene Wiell Engineer: Oluf Jørgensen A/S v/Jens Gandrup Jørgensen Acoustics: Bo Mortensen July 1, 2002