COBE extends danish red cross with staircase-roofed volunteer house

COBE extends danish red cross with staircase-roofed volunteer house
all images © COBE

the design has been revealed for the new ‘volunteer house’ at the danish red cross building in copenhagen, selected from a competition in the spring of 2013. the scheme, envisioned by architecture office COBE in collaboration with PK3 landscape architects and søren jensen engineers, extends with a triangular form from the 1950’s existing structure to contain support spaces for the medical care organization’s headquarters. the project engages use by the public by featuring an accessible staircase-roof, with terraces and vegetation scattered throughout to act as a stepped plaza. with construction planned to begin in 2015, the building addition is expected to be completed by early 2016.

the roof’s underside is given a stepped form similar to the upper surface

located in a central area of copenhagen, the staircase-roof is seen as being a place where the community can gather and hang out, rendering the building as a publicly minded facility. a large notch in the sloped ‘volunteer house’ addition allows for the main entrance to the overall red cross headquarters. within, a flexible conference and exhibition space opens toward a private garden, which is bounded by the new and old structures. additionally, the 750 sqm extension will contain a display and café area, as well as meeting and support rooms.

doors and full-height glass curtain walls open toward a private garden

to describe the design, founder and creative director of COBE dan stubbergaard remarks, ‘the building is shaped as a triangle rising up towards the existing red cross headquarters and has a spectacular pitched roof surface with stairs, terraces and greens elements. the roof will be a distinctive place attracting and inviting people to stop and hang out. a meeting place not only for the current employees and volunteers of the red cross – but for all citizens in copenhagen and beyond.’

site plan

section through main entrance

the scheme incorporates terraces and trees into the staircase terrain

a wide notch in the triangular form accesses the entire headquarters

a private garden is bounded by the new and existing structures

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project info:

location: copenhagen, denmark
dates: 2013 (1st prize in competition), early 2016 (expected completion)
size: 750 sqm (8,073 sqf)
client: danish red cross – donated by the A. P. møller foundation
architects: COBE
engineers: søren jensen rådgivende ingeniørfirma (søren jensen consulting engineer)
landscape architects: PK3