Stop on the island

The interior of the Copenhagen Island hotel is also worth a visit.
First, the lobby (in the "tower") has really interesting volumes. It actually contains only a panoramic elevator and access gateways to the floors. The blue panels give a warm underwater feel. Of course as we are in Denmark, you can enjoy design armchairs to get a well deserved rest :-)


Under the glass roof which was visible from behind the building, you can find a restaurant and a bar. Again everything is very "neo-Scandinavian": metal, dark wood and shades of beige.

The rooms have of course all you could need, including a desisgn chair ... Fortunately, the decoration is a little more colorful, which makes the atmosphere warmer. The advantage of living on an island is that there is waterview from all sides ... In particular views of the harbor, the bathing facility at the foot of the hotel and the modern buildings that dot the neighborhood.




This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.

Copenhagen Island Hotel

On the other side of the bridge, close to Fisketorvet, you can find the Copenhagen Island Hotel.

Viewed from behind, the building has strong looking vertical lines, whose monotony is broken by small balconies placed irregularly. Another hallmark is the restaurant glass roof (on the left of the picture).

Viewed from the front, you recognize the building thanks to its partially glassed square tower, topped by a black "hat". If this reminds you the Paustian shope, this is no coincidence: both buildings were designed by the same firm: Utzon.

Once you have walk around the building, you better understand the name. In fact the hotel is located on an artificial island. Access is therefore by bridge.

This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.
Last stop : Inside Copenhagen Island

View from the bridge

From the middle of the bridge, you can appreciate how much things have changed around here.
Before (in fact, it's nowadays and a little more south, but it gives you an idea of the look): an industrial area...

After: a lot of modern residential buildings (some office buildings too, especially on the other side) with a neo-nordic architecture (I don't know if it exists but I just thought it sounded great ;-)

After this little break, let's cross the bridge and walk past Fisketorvet (a not so interesting building) to end this walk in front of the Copenhagen Island hostel.

This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.
Next stop : Copenhagen Island

A bridge to cross...

Opposite to the Gemini residence, you will find a bridge to reach the other bank and its activities (especially the mall Fisketorvet). The idea is welcome as it helps open up the area of Islands Brygge. Urban planners believe that this might not be enough to bring life in the neighborhood ...
The bridge is for pedestrians and cyclists and the installation seems successful based on his attendance!


This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.
Next stop : View from the bridge

Gemini building

Just on the site of the Wennberg silo, another old silo has been converted into a residential building. The result is quite different, but also very original!

The architects had to work hard on this challenge: "What can you do with two cylinders 25m in diameter?"

The name of this great reconversion: the Gemini residence.

The balconies seems a bit more practical than on the Wennberg silo and I would think than the interior might be a little easier to furnish... on the other side, it's probably less fun!

This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.
Next stop : A bridge to cross

Wennberg silo

A few minutes later, you can see a huge building standing on the dock. This is an old silo of the "Dansk Soyakagefabrik" (a soy cake factory...). When the area was "civilized", the architects chose to keep the building and tranformed it into a residential complex of 16 floors!

You can well recognize the shape of the industrial silos.
As one might expect and as you can see on the building website (clik on boligerne, then interiør), some apartments must be really difficult to furnish!

Seen from afar, it's quite impressive and the originality of the building is really noticeable! At least the industrial past and history of the neighborhood is not forgotten.

This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.
Next stop : Gemini residence

Havneparken

Close to the baths, the banks have been landscaped into gardens and park activities. It includes among others things a football field, kayak polo installations ... This helps to bring a little life in the neighborhood!
The architects have retained some elements of the neighborhood's industrial past: remains of reinforced concrete walls, freight car, old boat, .... A very peculiar walk!


This post is part of the Islands Brygge Architecture walk.
Next stop : Wennberg Silo