The Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal - Copenhagen Airport
KAI - Water Culture House
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Client
Ejendomsfonden Vandkulturhuset Papirøen
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Team
Kengo Kuma & Associates, MT Højgaard AS, Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma A/S, KI Rådgivende Ingeniører ApS, COWI A/S Building East, Jesper Kongshaug, Cornelius Vöge Atelier for arkitektur (until and incl. disposition proposal), Buro Happold (until and incl. disposition proposal)
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Location
Trangravsvej 10, DK-1436 Copenhagen K
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Size
5,800 m2
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Contributors
Nordea-foundation and Copenhagen Municipality
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Client Consultancy Services
COWI A/S
KAI is a spectacular place on Papirøen in Copenhagen where water, culture and architecture come together, fostering community life and shared experiences. A building that is exclusive in its architectural expression, yet inclusive and welcoming in its purpose.
In 2015, the Municipality of Copenhagen launched an ideas competition for a new cultural and recreational facility on Papirøen. Copenhageners submitted 160 proposals, the majority of which expressed a desire for swimming facilities.
The ideas competition, combined with the ambition to create a new architectural landmark on Copenhagen's waterfront, paved the way for the development of KAI Water Culture House.
KAI was designed by Japanese architecture studio Kengo Kuma & Associates, which won the architectural competition in 2017 together with Cornelius Vöge and Søren Jensen. Since 2020, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects has served as the executive architect on the project.
The collaboration brings together international design expertise and local insight, resulting in an uncompromising work of architecture that complements Copenhagen's distinctive and vibrant harbour environment.
Water, culture and architecture converge
KAI features five sculptural brick volumes that appear to float above a lightweight glass structure. The tallest of these houses is the so-called Culture Tower, which provides a setting for art and cultural activities centered around the theme of water. The four other brick volumes are shaped by the outlines of the pools beneath them.
On the first floor, nestled between the brick volumes, visitors can enjoy the open-air Onsen, immersing themselves in warm water beneath the sky – even in rain or snow – or swim in the Valley Pool while taking in views of the Opera Park and the Royal Danish Playhouse.
Throughout the interior and exterior, 300,000 handmade bricks in subtly varying shades form a defining architectural feature. The bricks are arranged in a staggered, stepped pattern, giving the building its distinctive texture and sculptural character. A total of 403 windows of varying sizes act as viewing apertures, framing the surroundings and creating captivating experiences of natural light as it shifts throughout the day.
Read more about KAI on the official website.
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