This was our weekend: a German outdoor production of Hamlet on Friday in the courtyard at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør – totally mad, with a mud stage, chain link curtains, amazing music and a Hamlet that was totally off his rocker (of course). Saturday – research, bookings and more research (no one feels sorry for us, I know – I don’t either). Sunday – killer spinning class and an afternoon bike ride in the fresh air around Ørestad Syd – a brand new neighbourhood not far from where we live. We’d heard rumours about a great new café out at 8 Tallet (another Bjarke Ingels Group development that’s as impressive now that it’s nearly complete as it was in architectural model format at the Danish Architecture Centre). The café did not disappoint. Neither did the new sports park – it’s all kitted out with basketball court (not many of those here), soccer fields, an urban garden and even a rollerblading rink… might have to strap on the padding (and by padding I mean wrist guards AND pillows front and back) and blow the dust off those rollerblades…
My friend Inge posted this Bjarke Ingels’ TED presentation recently and I couldn’t resist blogging it here. Partly because I’m fascinated by the way BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) thinks evolution into architecture, and partly because we live in one of their buildings.
Last year, after witnessing an average of 3 summer tour groups per day and being subject to some less than subtle tourist photography while lounging at home in our underpants, we just couldn’t resist hopping on board one of the few tours actually hosted by BIG themselves – to hear what all the hubbub was about.
Odd as it was to step onto a tour bus at the Danish Architecture Centre and ride with the group back to our own front door – it was wonderful to finally hear first hand (from Kai Uwe Bergmann, architect and Director of International Business Development at BIG) what the thinking was behind not just our building, but several others in Copenhagen as well. BIG has a way of thinking more than the end product (the building) into their architecture – and you can feel that when you’re inside them. The light is different, the space breathes, and it feels alive. Outside is brought in, and there’s a great connection with the surrounding neighbourhood… (and ok, maybe too great a connection with the tourists, but that’s another story).
A clever concept, the SleepBox (area: 3.75 m2) addresses the need for quick access to sleep facilities for people on the go. The designers envision it being placed in airports, train stations and shopping centres.
Architects Goryainov and Krymov have thought convenience and hygiene (to some degree) into the design (between users the bedding would be automatically changed, with sheets wound from one roller onto another) – but my imagination immediately starts doing laps thinking about their application in reality (something perhaps a little human supervision & maintenance might address). Apparently I’m not the only one: here are some of the more entertaining comments posted at various blogs:
SexBox
“Love the general idea but wouldn’t be a place for young lovers (or something worse) to express themselves????”
“Great idea but will clearly become a rude box in no time, I can see prostitutes loving them, finally they get their own offices.”
“Japanese coffin hotel meets love hotel. Perfect match. I would only use it for sex. I’m not a day time sleeper.”
“Wank Bank “
” If the box is rock’n don’t come knock’n…”
When shopping and eating less is not an option
“I can recall so many times when i’ve been out shopping or had a big meal and just want to have a little nap before going off and about my day.”
…I can’t get enough of Kim Høltermand’s über crisp architectural photography. Largely based out of CPH and the Øresund region by the looks of it, Høltermand’s imagery pays perfect tribute to the ultra modern architecture finding place amongst the characteristically time worn (and well loved) here in Copenhagen.
This was our weekend: a German outdoor production of Hamlet on Friday in the courtyard at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør – totally mad, with a mud stage, chain link curtains, amazing music and a Hamlet that was totally off his rocker (of course). Saturday – research, bookings and more research (no one feels sorry for us, I know – I don’t either). Sunday – killer spinning class and an afternoon bike ride in the fresh air around Ørestad Syd – a brand new neighbourhood not far from where we live. We’d heard rumours about a great new café out at 8 Tallet (another Bjarke Ingels Group development that’s as impressive now that it’s nearly complete as it was in architectural model format at the Danish Architecture Centre). The café did not disappoint. Neither did the new sports park – it’s all kitted out with basketball court (not many of those here), soccer fields, an urban garden and even a rollerblading rink… might have to strap on the padding (and by padding I mean wrist guards AND pillows front and back) and blow the dust off those rollerblades…
