Shell House

  • Client

    Danish Shell

  • Location

    Kampmannsgade 2, DK-1604 København V

  • Area

    7,565 m2

  • Status

    Completed in 1951 - and transformed in 2023

  • Award

    Building of the Year - Åretsbyggeri.dk - Commercial (2023)

  • Sustainability Certification

    DGNB BIU

Commercial

Shell House

The iconic Shell house from 1951 lies on the corner of Kampmannsgade and Nyropsgade in Copenhagen. Vilhelm Lauritzen designed it to replace the original building which was bombed in 1945 by the Royal Air Force after the German Gestapo seized the building and turned it into its Danish headquarters.

The building is designed as a three-winged structure in classic modernist style and to make the Shell house more recognizable, the corners of the building were curved inwards to reveal recessed windows and parapet sections, which were decorated with stone friezes in a geometric pattern. The design of the window facets was created to underline the minimalistic nature of the building and the rhythm of the façade. 

The building consists of seven floors plus a penthouse floor, which today houses several shared meeting rooms and a lounge area for the tenants of the office building. Centrally located on the ground floor is a Circle K gas station, which has replaced the classic Shell station.

With great respect for the existing building and its history, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects was responsible for the restoration and transformation of the building in 2022, which today serves as Denmark's largest communal office building. 

The exterior of the building has been kept as close to the original from 1951 as possible. However, the façade has undergone necessary repairs and the windows have been replaced with modern three-layer windows. A lot of focus was placed on restoring the building's original yellow awnings to emphasize its minimalistic and iconic identity in the cityscape.

The building's original and preservation-worthy elements, such as the in-situ molded staircase have been renovated and given new life.

The interior design of the building is characterized by classic and comfortable materials that create a pleasant office environment, with the introduction of materials such as natural stone, wood, leather and brass.

In the individual offices, wooden window frames are an example of the emphasis placed on simple and minimalistic details, which together with pleasant lighting and functional furnishings signify the character of the building.

Other projects
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Pakhus 48
Tip of Nordø
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