The vision is now clear: CPH must expand. In 2015, the airport set a record with 26.6 million passengers, and the demand for stands and gates for long-haul flights means it is necessary to expand the airport so it can handle 40 million passengers a year.

A new pier – Finger E – is therefore taking shape. Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, in collaboration with Zeso Architects and with COWI as lead consultant, will design the new pier, which will house seven new gates. The 22,000 m² development will comprise a three-storey building and an associated support building.

Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects has a long-standing relationship with Copenhagen Airport, going back to the original terminal in 1939 and continuing through the years with Terminal 2 (1960) and Terminal 3 (1998). Experience from these earlier projects will form the basis for the design and execution of Finger E.

"We are creating the architecture of Finger E by combining a continuation of Copenhagen Airport’s identity with the implementation of new features that will anchor the architecture in both the present and the future. The architecture will provide the framework for a calm and clear experience for passengers. We will create the special Copenhagen atmosphere through abundant daylight, a material palette primarily consisting of warm, natural materials, and an overall simplicity and rationality," says Simon Svensson, partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects.

Finger E will be primarily aimed at long-haul routes and is scheduled for completion in 2019. The project is part of a larger expansion of Copenhagen Airport’s facilities, with a total cost of DKK 20 billion.