Once a disused railway hotel on Kalvebod Brygge in Copenhagen, originally designed by Ole Hagen in 1967. The building stood for decades as a raw Brutalist icon, admired by some and reviled by others. Today, the 180 metre long and six storey structure has been transformed into KB32, an open office domicile that embraces brutalism’s honesty while offering a flexible, daylight filled framework for the modern workplace.

A careful dialogue with the original

The transformation began with a stripped back approach. Decades of renovations had obscured the clarity of Hagen’s original tectonic intent. Structural investigations confirmed the robustness of the concrete shell, and rather than pursuing demolition, the design team chose to work with the existing fabric. By peeling away layers, the project reinstates the building’s 1960s identity with raw concrete and structural legibility in focus, while aligning it with new functions and spatial demands.

“Adaptive reuse is not about replicating the past, but about respecting the architectural choices already embedded in the building. Our task was to identify what deserved preservation and amplify it, while upgrading the house so it can endure for decades to come,” explains Simon Natanael Svensson, partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and in charge for KB32.

Light, structure and materiality

The façade, long the subject of architectural debate, has been reinterpreted with respect for its rhythm. Large window fields, articulated in matte aluminium frames, punctuate the 180 metre elevation and draw daylight deep into the 24 metre wide plan. The result is a rigorous yet softened composition where Brutalism’s monumentality meets a more human scale.

Inside, unnecessary finishes were removed to reveal the raw house. Robust concrete beams and columns now form an honest structural backdrop, complemented by oak, hot rolled steel and carefully detailed acoustic surfaces. With ceiling heights reaching 4.5 metres and windows nearly 4 metres tall, the interiors are flooded with light and animated by long sightlines. Flexible zones accommodate open offices, quiet rooms and collaborative spaces, while a roof terrace offers expansive views across Copenhagen’s harbour.

An icon renewed

KB32 demonstrates the architectural potential of transformation as both a sustainable strategy and a cultural act. By working with the authenticity of the existing building mass rather than against it, the project has preserved a Brutalist landmark while securing its future as a dynamic workspace.

Today, KB32 is home to Poul Schmith/Kammeradvokaten and the Danish National Archives, both benefitting from flexible environments that merge robust materiality with contemporary workplace design.

The project was realised by Genesta Property Nordic, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Erik Pedersen Consulting Engineers, SN Consult, Laika Rumdesign, JJW Architects and REVCO Property Development.