Tegnestuen Vandkunsten
Encyclopedia
Tegnestuen Vandkunsten a/s, often referred to simply as Vandkunsten, is a Danish
architectural firm founded in 1970. Vandkunsten were awarded the Alvar Aalto Medal
in 2009 for being a "modern interpretor and elaborator of Alvar Aalto
's ideological heritage". This was the first time that the Alvar Aalto Medal was awarded to a team of architects instead of an individual. Their pioneering and influential work in residential architecture and housing developments has been described as characterized by convertibility, communality, residential involvement, dense-low rise, and sustainable development. The office comprising around 30 designers, is located in Copenhagen
, while having completed projects in Scandinavia
and other parts of Europe
as well.
in Denmark (1971–78), notable for the spatial solutions aimed to promote social coherence, the minimization of construction costs through the use of advanced technology and simple materials, and the "relaxed yet modern" expression of the Danish traditions. The social housing complex comprises 78 houses with an average area of 87m².
Another early work, the Blue Corner, (Danish: et Blå Hjørne) (1983–89) in Copenhagen's Christianshavn
district is characterized by the creative use of the composition of the landscape.
Dianas Have at Hørsholm
, Denmark (1991–92), and Hestra Parkstad in Sweden (1991–92), became models for the 1990s row house districts in which narrow 'fingers' of buildings emerged into the surrounding landscape. The details of the interiors and exterior and innovative use of materials were meant to enhance the daily life of the people in an exemplary manner.
The conversion of the Torpedo Boat Shipyard at Holmen, Copenhagen
into a block of flats at the turn of the millennium (2001–03), became exemplary in the way the designers created a unique place for living. The steel and concrete Torpedo Hall, constructed in 1954, served as a maintenance hall for torpedo boats. In the conversion the architects left the structural elements intact to emphasize the architecture of this 155 meter long building. Instead, a new independent concrete structure has been built, which has the same five meter grid as the columns in the old hall but, shifted by 40 centimeters. The 67 apartments located in the building range from 83 m² to 275 m².
Their more recent works, such as the Sømærk at Teglholmen
(2003–08) and some residential blocks in Ørestaden (2003–08), both in Copenhagen, are remarkable for introducing earthbound social, spatial and functional elements to multi-storey residential constructions.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
architectural firm founded in 1970. Vandkunsten were awarded the Alvar Aalto Medal
Alvar Aalto Medal
The Alvar Aalto Medal was established in 1967 by the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Finnish Association of Architects . The Medal has been awarded intermittently since 1967 when the medal was created in honour of Alvar Aalto. The award is given in recognition of a significant contribution...
in 2009 for being a "modern interpretor and elaborator of Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
's ideological heritage". This was the first time that the Alvar Aalto Medal was awarded to a team of architects instead of an individual. Their pioneering and influential work in residential architecture and housing developments has been described as characterized by convertibility, communality, residential involvement, dense-low rise, and sustainable development. The office comprising around 30 designers, is located in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, while having completed projects in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and other parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well.
History
Tegnestuen Vandkunsten was established in 1970 by the architects Svend Algren, Jens Thomas Arnfred, Michael Sten Johnsen and Steffen Kragh. The partner group has been joined in 2000 by the architects Jan Albrechtsen and Ole Halfdan Andersen and in 2008 by the architects Flemming Ibsen, Pernille Schyum Poulsen, Søren Nielsen and landscape architect Thomas Nybo Rasmussen.Works
One of the office's early works which later became influential was Tinggården, a residential district near KøgeKøge
Køge Municipality is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand approx. 40 km. southwest of Copenhagen. The municipality covers an area of 255 km² , and has a total population of 56,637...
in Denmark (1971–78), notable for the spatial solutions aimed to promote social coherence, the minimization of construction costs through the use of advanced technology and simple materials, and the "relaxed yet modern" expression of the Danish traditions. The social housing complex comprises 78 houses with an average area of 87m².
Another early work, the Blue Corner, (Danish: et Blå Hjørne) (1983–89) in Copenhagen's Christianshavn
Christianshavn
Christianshavn is an artificial island neighbourhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in the early 17th century by Christian IV as part of his extension of the fortifications of Copenhagen. Originally it was laid out as an independent privileged merchant's town with inspiration from...
district is characterized by the creative use of the composition of the landscape.
Dianas Have at Hørsholm
Hørsholm
Hørsholm Kommune is a municipality in the Copenhagen Capital Region in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 31 km², and has a total population of 24,197...
, Denmark (1991–92), and Hestra Parkstad in Sweden (1991–92), became models for the 1990s row house districts in which narrow 'fingers' of buildings emerged into the surrounding landscape. The details of the interiors and exterior and innovative use of materials were meant to enhance the daily life of the people in an exemplary manner.
The conversion of the Torpedo Boat Shipyard at Holmen, Copenhagen
Holmen, Copenhagen
Holmen is an area in central Copenhagen, Denmark. In spite of its name, deceptively in singular, Holmen is a congregation of small islands, forming a north-eastern extension of Christianshavn between Zealand and the northern tip of Amager....
into a block of flats at the turn of the millennium (2001–03), became exemplary in the way the designers created a unique place for living. The steel and concrete Torpedo Hall, constructed in 1954, served as a maintenance hall for torpedo boats. In the conversion the architects left the structural elements intact to emphasize the architecture of this 155 meter long building. Instead, a new independent concrete structure has been built, which has the same five meter grid as the columns in the old hall but, shifted by 40 centimeters. The 67 apartments located in the building range from 83 m² to 275 m².
Their more recent works, such as the Sømærk at Teglholmen
Teglholmen
Teglholmen is a peninsula in the South Harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, located between Sluseholmen and Enghave Brygge. As part of the Southern Docklands of the Port of Copenhagen, the area used to house...
(2003–08) and some residential blocks in Ørestaden (2003–08), both in Copenhagen, are remarkable for introducing earthbound social, spatial and functional elements to multi-storey residential constructions.