In 2025, the first Copenhagen Architecture Biennial took place, featuring two forward-looking and material-conscious pavilions that served as symbols and landmarks reflecting the Biennial’s Slow Down theme. The pavilions attracted more than 100,000 visitors and were featured in a wide range of the world’s most influential architecture publications.
Elements: The Mobile Theatre Pavilion
We are proud to launch the pavilion call for Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2027, in collaboration with the internationally famous Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen. A special call for the transformation and modernisation of the already existing Mobile Theatre, responding to this year’s theme, Elements.
Elements, the theme of Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2027, investigates architecture as a matter of reestablishing connections to our senses and surroundings - the ground beneath our feet, the air we breathe and the materials we build with.
Leaving behind dreams of mastery over heat, earth, air and water we follow commonly felt desires for friction and ask what designing from dependence and connection might entail. In a time of warming, droughts and technological illusions of a frictionless escape into the cloud
With the transformation and creation of the new Mobile Theatre Pavilion, we urge you to build with fire, water, earth and air letting the world in instead of shutting it out
“Elements, the theme of Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2027, investigates architecture as a matter of reestablishing connections to our senses and surroundings - the ground beneath our feet, the air we breathe and the materials we build with.”
About Christiania and the Mobile Theatre Pavilion.
The transformed Mobile Theatre Pavilion is intended to be an active cultural stage on wheels that can be used for demonstrations, cultural caravans. It will have its permanent location behind Operaen in Christiania, where it will provide a setting for various cultural activities, as well as in other locations around the Freetown (see the attached maps for further information).
The original wagon has been an integral part of Christiania’s history and the formation of its identity. It was created and used by the political theatre group Solvognen and played a central part in many of their political happenings and interventions, including The Santa Claus Army in 1974 and the Rebild Happening in 1976, taking, among others, the form of a gigantic “Trojan Goose” for the Santa Claus Army intervention.
The Opera, which houses the wagon, originally housed a granary but was turned into a cultural gathering point shortly after the founding of Christiania in 1971. Since then, the Opera has become one of Christiania’s and Copenhagen’s most iconic and historic venues, known for its intimate atmosphere and diversity. The venue has given a stage to everything from classical concerts, theatre, and performance to being a space where the established and the underground could meet.
About the Open Call
- Accommodate cultural activities, such as concerts, speeches and theatre happenings, and function as a stage.
- Have a conceptual, beautiful and engaging appearance. It should allow for additions, signage, temporary decoration, etc. that can support individual cultural activities. Aesthetically, it should draw inspiration from the Operaen's existing stylistic and design language.
- Draw on the construction of the historic wagon and transform it using recyclable, regenerative and reusable materials that support a circular construction approach.
- Other requirements The new wagon should be conceived as a project that will benefit Christiania through a multifunctional cultural wagon that can be used for everything from a stage to a mobile wagon.
- It must be possible to lock the wagon securely, and it should therefore have folding glass doors, grilles, or another suitable solution.
- Construction During construction, emphasis will be placed on the possibility of involving residents, craftspeople and artists from Christiania, as well as the possibility of involving “Den Grønne Genbrugshal” in relation to materials.
Who Can Participate?
- Architects, designers and students (urban, landscape and building architecture).
- Both interdisciplinary teams and individuals are welcome, including engineers, artists, designers, scenographers and researchers.
- At least one member of every submitted proposal must be based in Denmark.
What Do You Get from Participating?
- The selected project will receive a prize of DKK 60,000.
- The opportunity to create attention, sensory experiences and a space for architecture enthusiasts, local residents, tourists and journalists from around the world visiting Copenhagen during Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2027.
- Contribute to the investigation of how to push the construction industry in a more sustainable direction, while creating new knowledge through building and transforming actual physical structures.
- A platform and connections to architects, professionals and experts.
- The opportunity to become part of the biennial, present your idea and realise your design and see it brought to life in the heart of Christiania, Copenhagen.
- Visibility through an extensive marketing and communications campaign, including exposure in Danish and international press.
Key Criteria
The structures must be structurally safe and take strong wind conditions into account. They must also be designed with a focus on user safety, logistics and day-to-day operation.
The proposal should draw on the history of the theatre wagon and preferably allow the underlying structure to remain fully or partially visible.
The wagon must have a permanent roof structure, while the sides should be designed to be dismantled, folded, or completely removed. It is essential that the wagon can be securely locked, so this should be taken into consideration when designing the sides. When the wagon is used as a stage, it would also be beneficial to have access through the back.
Sustainability and resource-conscious design are key criteria.
- The rolling action wagon must be possible to construct on site within 4 days.
- After the exhibition period, The Mobile Theatre Pavilion will become part of the Opera’s activities and must therefore be weather-resistant through the Danish winter.
- The selected team behind the proposal will be responsible for the actual construction, in dialogue with a representative from the Opera.
- There will, however, be an opportunity to receive support with:
- obtaining permits and regulatory approvals;
- dialogue with the municipality, landowners and engineers;
- contact with potential financing partners.
- During construction, it will be possible to purchase assistance and support, gain access to workshop facilities and collaborate with Christiania’s workshops, to the extent that this is planned and coordinated.
- Collaboration with the Opera on activities and coordination during the exhibition period is encouraged.
- Please note that the design and construction of the pavilions may be adjusted to ensure compliance with municipal guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements.
Submission Requirements
Dimensions
The existing structure will be mounted on a rolling chassis that can be approved by the Danish Road Traffic Authority. (The rolling chassis is outside the budget and scope of responsibility of the competition.)
The proposed design should build upon the existing framework structure. The completed structure may have a maximum size of: length 6.5 metres, width 2.5 metres, height 4 metres from ground level (inclusive the wagon).
How to submit
Submit as a PDF (maximum 6 A3 pages, landscape, maximum 20 MB), including:
- A short text describing the concept, material approach and planning/construction processes.
- Estimated budget (materials, craftsmen, etc.). Copenhagen Architecture Biennial can provide up to DKK 200,000 in financial support for production costs. The wheels and rolling chassis will be made available and is not part of the budget.
- Site plan at 1:100.
- All necessary drawings in the form of plans, sections and elevations at 1:50.
- Visual material that further communicates and supports the idea and concrete design, such as sketches, visualisations, collages or photographs of a model.
- Necessary details at 1:10.
Submission Deadline: 10 February (CET 23.59)