Events Archive

This is the complete archive of events, from CAFx Biennial and our partners.

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  • Duration
    September 2, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Address
    Nikolaj Plads 10
  • Partner
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Year
    2025

Dates: 2 September – 12 October (Saturdays and Sundays, except 20 and 21 September)
Autumn holiday (13 - 19 October): Daily

Time: always at 1:00 PM.
Join a guided tower tour and experience the spectacular view of the capital from 35 metres above ground! As part of the Copenhagen Architecture Biennale, we offer tours of Nikolaj Tower, where you’ll also get brief insights into the church’s dramatic and fascinating history. St Nicholas Church is one of the oldest churches in Copenhagen, originally built in the early 13th century. It is named after Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, and is located close to the city’s harbour.

Tickets are sold in the café on the day, on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: limited capacity.

DAN:

Datoer: 2. september – 12. oktober (lørdage og søndage, undtagen 20. og 21. september)
Efterårsferie (13. – 19. oktober): Dagligt
Tidspunkt: Altid kl. 13.00

Tag med på en guidet tårntur og oplev den spektakulære udsigt over hovedstaden fra 35 meters højde! Som en del af Copenhagen Architecture Biennial tilbyder vi rundvisninger i Nikolaj Tårn, hvor du også får et kort indblik i kirkens dramatiske og fascinerende historie. Sankt Nikolaj Kirke er en af de ældste kirker i København, oprindeligt opført i begyndelsen af 1200-tallet. Den er opkaldt efter Sankt Nikolaj, søfarernes skytshelgen, og ligger tæt ved byens havn.

Billetter sælges i caféen på dagen efter først-til-mølle-princippet. Bemærk: begrænset kapacitet.

CAFx Biennial program launch celebration. Sep 4, 2025 at CAFx, Copenhagen. Get printed program, drinks & highlights preview.

  • Duration
    September 4, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    CAFx
  • Address
    Halmtorvet 27, 1700 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

We’re celebrating the release of this year’s printed program paper. Get your edition, enjoy a drink, and hear us share some of the highlights you can experience at this year’s biennale.

  • Duration
    September 17, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Copenhagen Architecture Forum
  • Address
    Halmtorvet 27
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Observation, silence, restraint, humility, and hesitancy are often cast as weaknesses in an action-oriented society—seen as shortcomings rather than strengths. In the group exhibition Slow Down, we offer an architectural defense of these unappreciated dispositions, tracing the new rhythms, frictions, and imaginaries of the great, dizzying deceleration that lies ahead.

Come along for the opening of the exhibition, made in collaboration with Form/Design Center in Malmö, get a first look, and enjoy a cold Biennial Beer made in collaboration with To Øl.

Having carefully curated a show out of several hundred international proposals, we tune into planetary systems and, reconsidering urban rituals, reimagine infrastructural alternatives: an architecture of signal-jammers forms silent sanctuaries, a mobile pavilion performs rainwater harvesting as a public event, and a deep dive into Køge Bugt uncovers the slow violence of marine sand extraction.

The exhibitors in at Halmtorvet 27 are: Kristiane Fenger and Panuela Aasted (Stadia), CENTRALA, David A.Garcia, E. B Itso, Pablo Castillo Luna, Jana Pressler, Tonda Budszus, Studio Tideland + Emma Rishøj Holm, Dark Matter Lab, Lauge Floris and Debbie Chen.

DA:

Observation, stilhed, tilbageholdenhed, ydmyghed og tøven bliver ofte betragtet som svagheder i et handlingsorienteret samfund – set som mangler frem for styrker. I gruppeudstillingen Slow Down tilbyder vi et arkitektonisk forsvar for disse undervurderede dispositioner og følger de nye rytmer, friktioner og forestillinger i den store, svimlende deceleration, der ligger foran os.

Kom med til åbningen af udstillingen, skabt i samarbejde med Form/Design Center i Malmö, få et første kig, og nyd en kold Biennial Beer lavet i samarbejde med To Øl.

Efter nøje at have kurateret en udstilling ud af flere hundrede internationale forslag, tuner vi ind på planetariske systemer og genovervejer urbane ritualer for at genopfinde infrastrukturelle alternativer: en arkitektur af signalforstyrrere danner stille fristeder, en mobil pavillon udfører regnvandsopsamling som en offentlig begivenhed, og et dybt dyk ned i Køge Bugt afslører den langsomme vold ved maritim sandudvinding.

Udstillerne på Halmtorvet 27 er: Kristiane Fenger og Panuela Aasted (Stadia), CENTRALA, David A. Garcia, E. B Itso, Pablo Castillo Luna, Jana Pressler, Tonda Budszus, Studio Tideland + Emma Rishøj Holm, Dark Matter Lab, Lauge Floris og Debbie Chen.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Kulturkvarteret
  • Address
    København
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Podcast: Se op! Arkitekternes København

Podcastserien handler om byens huse – og dem, der har tegnet dem.
I en række samtaler med udvalgte eksperter zoomer museumsdirektør Marius Hansteen ind på bestemte bygninger – kendte og mindre kendte – i det københavnske bybillede. Hver podcast handler om én arkitekt. Tilsammen udgør hele serien en levende og tilgængelig introduktion til de sidste 400 års københavnske arkitekturhistorie.

Der er forslag til rute efter hvert afsnit. Lige til at gå på opdagelse i!

Link til podcastserien:
https://cphmuseum.kk.dk/om-museet/museets-podcasts/podcastserien-se-op-arkitekternes-koebenhavn

ENG:

The podcast series is about the city’s buildings — and those who designed them.

In a series of conversations with selected experts, museum director Marius Hansteen zooms in on specific buildings — well-known and lesser-known — in the Copenhagen cityscape. Each podcast focuses on one architect. Together, the entire series forms a lively and accessible introduction to 400 years of Copenhagen’s architectural history.

There are route suggestions after each episode, ready for you to explore!

Link to the podcast series: https://cphmuseum.kk.dk/om-museet/museets-podcasts/podcastserien-se-op-arkitekternes-koebenhavn

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    KIOSK
  • Address
    Hovedgaden 7C, Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Frederiksberg
  • Partner
    LOKALE
  • Year
    2025

At Hospitalshaven, artist collective Lokale inhabits Kiosk—the former hospital gift shop—during its transformation into a residential area. “Pillars” by Camilla Nørgård and Christina Marie Jespersen marks the first phase in rebuilding Kiosk with a site-specific, holistic approach. Over the Biennial, three pillars will be built from excavated materials—each from one of Lokale’s three sites: Hospitalshaven, Prags Boulevard, and Sydhavnen. Though built in equal time, their sizes reflect differences in access, labor, and geography. The evolving Kiosk invites slow, attentive engagement—an architecture shaped by presence and the unfolding of time and place.

Opening 18/9 at 17-19. Open 24/7

DAN:

Ved Hospitalshaven vil kunstnerkollektivet Lokale indtage Kiosk – den tidligere hospitalskiosk – under dens forvandling til et boligområde. "Pillars" af Camilla Nørgård og Christina Marie Jespersen markerer første fase i genopbygningen af Kiosk med en stedsspecifik og holistisk tilgang.

I løbet af Biennalen opføres tre søjler af opgravet materiale – hver fra ét af Lokales tre sites: Hospitalshaven, Prags Boulevard og Sydhavnen. Selvom søjlerne bygges på lige lang tid, afspejler deres størrelse forskelle i adgang, arbejdskraft og geografi. Den stadigt udviklende Kiosk inviterer til langsom, opmærksom deltagelse – en arkitektur formet af nærvær og af tidens og stedets udfoldelse.

Fernisering 18/9 kl. 17-19. Åben døgnet rundt

City Shrine: 24/7 Tibetan prayer wheel installation by Dicki Lakha—meditate, spin intentions, and invite all to join.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Transfer
  • Address
    Sønder Hoved, 1432 København
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

City shrine is a place of contemplation, a movement - a prayer. An invitation to slow down and place your intention in a movement. The installation is an interpretation of the Tibetan prayer wheel. While spinning each wheel you are invited to send an intention into our world and the prayer wheel will work as a vehicle for your prayer. Traditionally you pray for all living beings. To dispel the miseries of the world.

Architect and scenographer Dicki Lakha has a Tibetan background which she draws on in this installation. Merging the Tibetan culture and architecture with modern materials.
She invites everybody to engage no matter belief or background.

Open 24/7


DAN:

City Shrine er et sted for eftertanke, en bevægelse – en bøn. En invitation til at sænke tempoet og lægge din intention i en bevægelse. Installationen er en fortolkning af det tibetanske beddehjul. Når du drejer hvert hjul, inviteres du til at sende en intention ud i verden, og beddehjulet fungerer som et redskab for din bøn. Traditionelt beder man for alle levende væsener. For at fordrive verdens lidelser.

Arkitekt og scenograf Dicki Lakha har tibetansk baggrund, som hun trækker på i denne installation. Hun forener tibetansk kultur og arkitektur med moderne materialer.

Hun inviterer alle til at deltage – uanset tro eller baggrund.

Åbent døgnet rundt.

Garden of Decay: Entangled ecologies exhibition. Sep 17-Oct 17, 2025 at Transfer, Copenhagen. Multi-species habitat exploration.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Transfer
  • Address
    Sønder Hoved, 1432 København
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

In this exhibition project we approach a garden as an archeological site where we explore the multi-species habitats that have emerged, evolved and entangled with the passing of time. With a history of anthropocentric transitions from seabed to island, from industry to bankruptcy, from abandonment to rediscovery, how do we imagine a shift towards a more-than-human future? By making the garden a place for active research, visitors are offered a chance to experience a staging of entangled ecosystems and take part in the on-going research through events with various collaborators. Rather than a static display, the exhibition will be a slow process of (re)learning how stories and species coexist, conflict, and cooperate within a shared habitat. Open 24/7.

DA:

I dette udstillingsprojekt betragter vi en have som et arkæologisk sted, hvor vi udforsker de flerarts-habitater, der er opstået, udviklet og viklet ind i hinanden over tid. Med en historie præget af antropocentriske overgange – fra havbund til ø, fra industri til konkurs, fra forladt til genopdaget – hvordan kan vi forestille os et skifte mod en mere-end-menneskelig fremtid? Ved at gøre haven til et sted for aktiv forskning får besøgende mulighed for at opleve en iscenesættelse af sammenflettede økosystemer og deltage i den igangværende forskning gennem arrangementer med forskellige samarbejdspartnere. Snarere end en statisk fremvisning vil udstillingen være en langsom proces med at (gen)lære, hvordan historier og arter sameksisterer, kommer i konflikt og samarbejder i et fælles habitat. Åbent døgnet rundt.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Det Kgl. bibliotek, Den Sorte Diamant
  • Address
    Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, 1221 København K
  • Partner
    Det Kgl. Bibliotek
  • Year
    2025

Den Hemmelige Have På Magtens Ø

Tag familien med på hemmelighedsjagt i Det Kgl. Biblioteks have. Udforsk sjove fortællinger, find fugle og statuer, og mærk historiens vingesus. For børn i alderen 5-11 år og deres voksne.

Bag Det Kgl. Biblioteks høje mure ligger en fredfyldt oase lige midt i København. Det er Bibliotekshaven, hvor folk igennem mange år har søgt ro og stilhed mellem havens planter. Nogle har måske også fanget Pokémons eller været på picnic.

Bibliotekshaven har en spændende historie, som går helt tilbage til Christian IVs tid, hvor området var krigshavn. Den historie og de mange finurlige og sjove fortællinger, som haven rummer, kan I opleve med et materiale til børn og deres voksne.

Hent materialet i Den Sorte Diamants butik. Gratis!

ENG:

Bring the family along for a secret hunt in the Royal Library Garden. Explore fun stories, find birds and statues, and feel the whisper of history. For children aged 5–11 and their adults.

Behind the tall walls of the Royal Library lies a peaceful oasis right in the heart of Copenhagen. It’s the Library Garden, where people have sought peace and quiet among the plants for many years. Some may also have caught Pokémon or enjoyed a picnic.

The Library Garden has a fascinating history that dates all the way back to the time of Christian IV, when the area served as a naval harbor. That history, along with the many whimsical and fun stories the garden holds, can be discovered with a special activity for children and their adults.

Pick up the material in the shop at Den Sorte Diamant. Free of charge!

Explore Poetic Daylight pavilion: experience daylight’s changing light, health benefits, and green architecture in Nordic spaces.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Det Kongelige Akademi – Arkitektur, Design, Konservering - Ved Kanalen
  • Address
    Philip de Langes Allé 10 - 1435 Copenhagen K
  • Partner
    Royal Danish Academy
  • Year
    2025

Daylight gives us an understanding of the spaces we find ourselves in every day.

The spatial qualities of daylight are unfolded in the 'Poetic Daylight' pavilion, where the perceptual, aesthetic, and poetic potential of daylight can be experienced in a series of spaces. We see the changeability of daylight - from morning to evening - and we experience how light, and darkness shape the spaces that surround us.

Daylight is essential in architecture - and an important factor for our well-being and health. Especially here in the Nordic region, where there are fewer hours of daylight. By utilizing daylight as the primary light source, we can contribute to the green transition while ensuring that we get the daylight we need.


DAN:

Dagslys giver os en forståelse af de rum, vi befinder os i til hverdag.

De rumlige kvaliteter ved dagslys udfoldes i pavillonen 'Poetic Daylight', hvor dagslysets perceptuelle, æstetiske og poetiske potentiale kan opleves i en række forskellige rum. Vi ser dagslysets foranderlighed – fra morgen til aften – og vi oplever, hvordan lys og mørke former de rum, der omgiver os.

Dagslys er essentielt i arkitekturen – og en vigtig faktor for vores velvære og sundhed. Især her i Norden, hvor der er færre lyse timer. Ved at bruge dagslys som den primære lyskilde kan vi bidrage til den grønne omstilling, samtidig med at vi sikrer, at vi får det dagslys, vi har brug for.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Outdoor pavillion at the parking lot of SPOR10
  • Address
    Vasbygade 10a, 2450 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    maker
  • Year
    2025

Textile Topography is an outdoor pavilion and workshop space dedicated to repurposing textile waste. Located in a vacant parking lot in Jernbanebyen, the pavilion evolves over time through community contributions. It also serves as a tactile installation showcasing the transformation of discarded textiles. Visitors are invited to use the machinery to create decorative pieces that become part of the pavilion. Everyone is welcome to stop by and leave their mark during the open workshop days.

DAN:

Textile Topography er et udendørs pavillon- og workshopområde dedikeret til genanvendelse af tekstilaffald. Beliggende på en tom parkeringsplads i Jernbanebyen udvikler pavillonen sig over tid gennem bidrag fra lokalsamfundet. Den fungerer også som en taktil installation, der viser forvandlingen af kasserede tekstiler. Besøgende inviteres til at bruge maskinerne til at skabe dekorative genstande, som bliver en del af pavillonen. Alle er velkomne til at kigge forbi og sætte deres præg under de åbne workshopdage.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    VILLUM Window Collection
  • Address
    Maskinvej 4
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

VILLUM Window Collection documents and communicates the history of the window and its significance to the quality of human life through access to light, air and views.

During the Biennial you can experience:

Window Behaviorology: An exhibition curated by Japanese architect Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, founding member of Atelier Bow-Wow and Tsukamoto Laboratory who has devoted many years to the study of windows and behavior.
Wall of Windows: Exhibition by Rem Koolhaas, Venice Architecture Biennale 2014 - A wall of English windows dating from the 17th to the 20th century

During Copenhagen Architecture Biennial VILLUM Window Collection have extended opening hours. You can visit the museum every day from 11am - 5pm and Thursdays 11am - 7pm.
Guided Tours for groups upon request

Free admission

DAN:

VILLUM Window Collection dokumenterer og formidler vinduets historie og dets betydning for menneskets livskvalitet gennem adgang til lys, luft og udsyn.

Under Biennalen kan du opleve:

Window Behaviorology: En udstilling kurateret af den japanske arkitekt Yoshiharu Tsukamoto og Tsukamoto Laboratory, som i mange år har forsket i vinduer og adfærd.

Wall of Windows: Udstilling af Rem Koolhaas, Venedig Arkitekturbiennale 2014 – en væg af engelske vinduer fra det 17. til det 20. århundrede.

I forbindelse med Copenhagen Architecture Biennial har VILLUM Window Collection udvidede åbningstider. Museet holder åbent hver dag fra kl. 11.00 – 17.00 og torsdage fra kl. 11.00 – 19.00.

Rundvisninger for grupper tilbydes efter aftale.

Gratis entré.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Det Kgl. bibliotek, Den Sorte Diamant
  • Address
    Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, 1221 København K
  • Partner
    Det Kgl. Bibliotek
  • Year
    2025

Den Store Diamantjagt

Drag ud på Den Store Diamantjagt og find Visdommens Diamant i Det Kgl. Biblioteks eventyrlige bygninger. En oplevelse med fri entré for børn i alderen 5-12 år og deres voksne.

På et hemmeligt sted i Det Kgl. Bibliotek findes Visdommens Diamant – en diamant, som kun de vise kan finde! Visdommens Diamant er kilden til klogskab, og at finde den kræver mod, nysgerrighed og samarbejde.

Alle nysgerrige børn og deres voksne kan gå på jagt efter Visdommens Diamant i bibliotekets skattejagt, Den Store Diamantjagt.

Med kompas, kort, lommelygte og eventyrtaske går Den Store Diamantjagt rundt i bibliotekets bygninger.

På turen oplever I bibliotekets eventyrlige arkitektur, mens I sammen laver sjove opgaver og udfordrende aktiviteter.

ENG:

Set off on the Great Diamond Hunt and find the Diamond of Wisdom in the Royal Library’s enchanting buildings. A free-entry experience for children aged 5–12 and their adults.

In a secret location within the Royal Library lies the Diamond of Wisdom – a diamond that only the wise can find! The Diamond of Wisdom is the source of knowledge, and finding it requires courage, curiosity, and teamwork.

All curious children and their adults are invited to join the treasure hunt for the Diamond of Wisdom in the library’s Great Diamond Hunt.

With a compass, map, flashlight, and adventure bag, the Great Diamond Hunt leads you through the library’s buildings.

Along the way, you’ll discover the library’s magical architecture while completing fun tasks and exciting challenges together.

Family activity sheets at Copenhagen Museum: pattern hunt, keys quest, and city bingo. Sep 18–Oct 19.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Københavns Museum
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Arkitektur i børnehøjde

Gå på jagt i arkitekturen med Københavns Museums aktivitetsark til børn og barnlige sjæle. Arkene er gratis og udleveres til alle børn, der kigger forbi museets billetskranke under Copenhagen Architecture Biennial.

På Københavns Museum:

  • Museet bugner af smukke mønstre – se, om du kan finde vores 8 favoritter.
  • Nøgler, nøgler, nøgler – hele 31 gemmer sig rundt om på museet. Kan du finde dem alle?

I København: Tag på arkitektur-bingo rundt i København, og spot 14 karakteristiske københavnerting i bybilledet. Bingopladen findes både på dansk og engelsk.


ENG:

Go on a hunt an architecture hunt with Copenhagen Museum’s activity sheets for children and the young at heart. The sheets are free and available to all children who visit the museum’s ticket desk during the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial.

At Copenhagen Museum:

  • The museum is full of beautiful patterns — see if you can find our 8 favorites.
  • Keys, keys, keys — as many as 31 are hidden throughout the museum. Can you find them all?

In Copenhagen: Take part in architecture bingo around Copenhagen and spot 14 characteristic Copenhagen items in the cityscape. The bingo card is available in both Danish and English.

Champagne and guided tour of Daniel Libeskind’s architecture at the Danish Jewish Museum. Thu Sep 18, 11:00–14:30.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Dansk Jødisk Museum
  • Address
    Proviantpassagen 6, 1218 København K
  • Partner
    Dansk Jødisk Museum
  • Year
    2025

Champagne og omvisning i Daniel Libeskinds nyeste arkitektur i Danmark

Til åbningen af arkitekturbiennalen 2025 inviterer Dansk Jødisk Museum indenfor til en festlig eftermiddag, hvor vi hylder museets spektakulære rammer – tegnet af den verdensberømte arkitekt Daniel Libeskind.
Kom og nyd et glas bobler og en omvisning, hvor vi dykker ned i tankerne bag Libeskinds skæve vinkler, stærke symbolik og unikke arkitektoniske sprog. Det er en sjælden mulighed for at opleve, hvordan arkitektur og fortælling smelter sammen i det rum, der huser kulturhistorien om jødisk liv i Danmark.

Program på Dansk Jødisk Museum den 18. september
Kl. 13.00 – 16.30: Bobler og lidt salt
Kl. 15.00 – 16.00: Omvisning i Daniel Libeskinds arkitektur ved museumsinspektør Signe Bergman Larsen

ENG:

For the opening of the 2025 Architecture Biennale, the Danish Jewish Museum invites you to a festive afternoon where we celebrate the museum’s spectacular setting – designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.

Come and enjoy a glass of bubbles and a guided tour where we delve into the ideas behind Libeskind’s sharp angles, strong symbolism, and unique architectural language. This is a rare opportunity to experience how architecture and storytelling merge in the space that houses the cultural history of Jewish life in Denmark.

Programme at the Danish Jewish Museum on 18 September

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Bubbles and light snacks

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Guided tour of Daniel Libeskind’s architecture by museum curator Signe Bergman Larsen

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Address
    Nikolaj Plads 10
  • Partner
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Year
    2025

Join us as the Copenhagen Architecture Biennale launches simultaneously across a wide range of art and cultural institutions – not least at Nikolaj Kunsthal! Enjoy a laid-back pop-up slow-down bar outside on Nikolaj Plads, happy hour, and free admission to Nikolaj Kunsthal’s current exhibitions. The exhibitions unfold within the unique historical and architectural setting in the heart of central Copenhagen, where past and present meet.

DK

Kom med, når Copenhagen Architecture Biennale skydes i gang synkront på en lang række kunst- og kulturinstitutioner – ikke mindst Nikolaj Kunsthal! Oplev en interimistisk slow-down-bar udenfor på Nikolaj Plads, happy hour og gratis adgang til Nikolaj Kunsthals aktuelle udstillinger. Udstillingerne udfolder sig i de unikke historiske og arkitektoniske rammer midt i København K, hvor fortid og nutid går hånd i hånd.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Søren Kierkegaards Plads
  • Address
    Søren Kierkegaards Plads
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Slaatto Morsbøl and Tom Svilans x THISS Studio are the winners of the Slow Pavilions open call.

With each their take on an architecturally sophisticated pavilion in recycled and reusable materials, they set out to imagine what a great deceleration of the global system might look, feel, and sound like on a local scale. The architecture of the 21st century will be an architecture of the slow. For it’s really not about whether we slow down, nor if we need to. It’s about how slowness will arrive. In each their way the winners give this years Biennial theme, Slow Down, physical form.

Join us for the opening of the pavilions on 18th September at 16:00 on Søren Kierkegaards Plads. The opening will begin with a guided tour of Inside Out, Downside Up, Slaatto Morsbøl’s pavilion, before we walk to Gl. Strand for the viewing of Barn Again by Tom Svilans x THISS Studio.

Designed and built specifically for the Biennial the pavilions will act as a symbols and gathering places for the first Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025 taking place in 18 September - 19 October.

Inside Out, Downside Up by Slaatto Morsbøl

is a pavilion built mainly from reused materials, offering a spatial response to the biennale theme Slow Down through a tactile and sensorial architectural experience. Located at Søren Kierkegaard Plads, the pavilion reflects the characteristics of its immediate context — a site marked by the contrast between historic brick warehouses and modern metal and glass buildings, all framing an expansive
cobblestone-paved plaza beside the canal.

The project understands slowness as a physical and emotional recalibration — a return to awareness through the senses. In a world where construction is often driven by speed, efficiency, and detachment from material realities. The pavilion invites visitors to slow down
not just through its atmosphere, but through its very making.

BIO: Slaatto Morsbøl (Thelma Slaatto, NO, and Cecilie Morsbøl, DK) is a young architectural duo based in Copenhagen, with an education from the Royal Danish Academy. Slaatto Morsbøl were the 2024 winners of the Danish Association of Architects ‘Udsyn’ prize.

Barn Again by Tom Svilans & THISS Studio

proposes a reimagining of the traditional Norwegian barn through the expressive reconfiguration of reclaimed timber elements. The pavilion addresses slowness from three different perspectives: by providing a place of pause in the middle of the city; by deferring and elongating the material value chain; and through the tectonic overlay of timber hand and machine-craft.

Timber is salvaged from a disused barn—weathered wood that has already lived a life—and strategically reconfigured into a sheltered cocoon in the plaza at Gammel Strand, where its traditional architectural language is contrasted with new joinery and precise machine incisions.

Barn Again is made in a collaboration between: Tom Svilans, an award-winning architectural designer and researcher based in Copenhagen, Denmark. THISS Studio, an award-winning London- based architecture practice founded by Tamsin Hanke and Sash Scott. As well as Bollinger+Grohmann & Winther A/S. Visit their Instagrams here and here

From the jury

Amy Frearson, Journalist & Editor at DeZeen: "The two winning designs epitomise the idea of “slowing down” in architecture. One highlights the beauty that can be found in reused materials, while the other shows how historic typologies can inspire new forms of innovation. Together, they offer a bold vision for how architecture can respond to our changing world.”

Ida Willadsen Bang Kjeldsen, Curator & Architect at CAFx: "The winning pavilions showcase how reused building materials can be employed in both aesthetic and innovative ways, and how existing materials can be repaired—adding new layers of meaning and connection between the old and the new. These are important steps toward ‘slowing down’ the building industry. We received an exceptional number of high-quality pavilion proposals, which made the jury’s decision all the more difficult.”

Lars Autrup, Director of the Danish Association of Architects: “It is a great pleasure to be allowed to select pavilions in such a fine field of professional engagement and artistic ambitions. Pavilions serve as vital testbeds for sustainable architecture—offering a unique opportunity to experiment with innovative materials, circular design principles, and low- impact construction techniques. Their temporary nature encourages bold exploration, allowing architects to push boundaries, rethink resource efficiency, and inspire new approaches to building for a more sustainable future.

Chrissie Muhr, Architect, Researcher & Curator: “The selected pavilions articulate a most current and forward-looking architectural agency, situated within the broader transition toward circular building. Through regenerative material strategies and a deep engagement with craft, they revive construction culture and reconfigure material value chains— foregrounding architecture as both process and practice. Their affective spatial language reveals how emerging forms of architecture can assert agency across cultural, material, and social horizons, bridging environmental intelligence with sensuous, embodied experience.”

Partners

The pavilions will be built using recycled, regenerative, and reusable materials in a partnership with Revalu and Dreyers Foundation and Buro Happold, reflecting the biennial's commitment to zero waste and long-term ecological impact. The pavilions will be erected in The Copenhagen Cultural District

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Gammel Strand
  • Address
    Gammel Strand 48, 1202 København K
  • Partner
    Gammel Strand
  • Year
    2025

Fødselsdagfest og udstillingsåbning

Gammel Strand inviterer torsdag den 18. september til kæmpe fejring i anledningen af vores 200 år og åbningen af efterårets store udstilling 'Når vi døde vågner'.

Aftenen byder på et festligt program med jordbærkage, håndbajere, taler, performances og musik.

ENG:

Gammel Strand invites you to a grand celebration on Thursday, September 18, in honor of our 200th anniversary and the opening of the major autumn exhibition 'Når vi døde vågner'.

The evening offers a festive program with strawberry cake, bottled beer, speeches, performances, and music.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Københavns Museum
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Vandets lyd i byen

Kom med til en sanselig samtale om lyd, vand og forandring, og oplev lydkunstner Jacob Kirkegaard og lydhistoriker Jakob Parby i en samtale om de mange lyde, der knytter sig til vandet i byen. Hvad fortæller lydene fra kloakker, havnebassiner og regnvandsbassiner os om byen – før og nu?

Du hører alt fra brusende kloakløb til klangfulde undervandsoptagelser og får indblik i, hvordan lyd og miljø hænger sammen. Samtalen kredser om klima, urban udvikling og sansernes rolle i vores forståelse af byen og bindes sammen af lytteeksempler og refleksioner. Her inviterer både til fordybelse og nye perspektiver på noget så dagligdags – og livsvigtigt – som vand.

ENG:

Join us for a sensory conversation about sound, water, and change, and experience sound artist Jacob Kirkegaard and sound historian Jakob Parby in a dialogue about the many sounds connected to water in the city. What do the sounds from sewers, harbor basins, and stormwater ponds tell us about the city – past and present?

You’ll hear everything from rushing sewer flows to resonant underwater recordings and gain insight into how sound and environment are connected. The conversation revolves around climate, urban development, and the role of the senses in our understanding of the city, woven together with listening examples and reflections. Here, you are invited to both immerse yourself and discover new perspectives on something as everyday—and vital—as water.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    VILLUM Window Collection
  • Address
    Maskinvej 4
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

Every Thursday at 5pm during the Biennial you can join us for a guided tour of the special exhibition Window Behaviorology by Tsukamoto Laboratory.

This Japanese exhibition is based on research on windows and behaviour and is a study exhibition, encouraging you immerse yourself in Tsukamoto Laboratory's research, findings and publications from all over the world including Scandinavia.

Tsukamoto Laboratory is led by architect and professor Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, who is also the co-founder of the architecture studio Atelier Bow-Wow.

Admission: Free

DAN:

Hver torsdag kl. 17 under biennalen kan du deltage i en guidet rundvisning i den særlige udstilling Window Behaviorology af Tsukamoto Laboratory.

Denne japanske udstilling er baseret på forskning i vinduer og adfærd og er en studieudstilling, der opfordrer dig til at fordybe dig i Tsukamoto Laboratorys forskning, resultater og publikationer fra hele verden – inklusive Skandinavien.

Tsukamoto Laboratory ledes af arkitekt og professor Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, som også er medstifter af tegnestuen Atelier Bow-Wow.

Adgang: Gratis

Free entry to Copenhagen Architecture Biennial kickoff, Sept 18, at Thorvaldsens Museum. Enjoy performances, DJ sets, food & Biennale beer.

  • Duration
    September 18, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Thorvaldsens Museum
  • Address
    Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, 1213 København K
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Sæt et stort KRYDS i kalenderen d. 18. september, hvor Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025 officielt bliver skudt i gang. Der er gratis entré og alle er velkomne på Thorvaldsens Museum, hvor kulturminister Jakob Engel-Schmidt blandt andre vil byde velkommen. Derudover kan du se frem til performances fra Sydhavn Teater og Ying-Hsueh Chen, DJ-sets af Amici Lenti, og mad for både børn og voksne fra FAR. Og så kan du stille tørsten med vores egen Biennale øl fra To Øl og vin fra BonBon.

Hele d. 18. september er en festdag: Mange af kvarterets institutioner har gratis entré, specielle arrangementer og forlængede åbningstider.

ENG

Mark your calendar for September 18, when the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial officially kicks off. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome at Thorvaldsens Museum, where Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt, among others, will give a welcome speech. You can also look forward to performances by Sydhavn Teater and Ying-Hsueh Chen. Satisfy your thirst with our very own Biennial Beer made in collaboration with To Øl and wine from BonBon Wine, while experiencing DJ-sets from Amici Lenti and food for both adults and children by FAR.

September 18 is a day of celebration: Many of the neighborhood’s institutions will offer free admission, special events, and extended opening hours.

  • Duration
    September 19, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Prospekt
  • Address
    Eriksgade 15, 1708 København V
  • Partner
    Prospekt Space
  • Year
    2025

HANDS ON
September 11 – October 18, 2025
Cecilie Morsbøl and Thelma Slaatto
An exhibition project exploring the potential and aesthetics of using construction waste

With Hands On, Slaatto Morsbøl will use Prospekt as an extension of their fieldwork at construction waste and demolition sites. Here, they experiment with new methods to transform discarded, seemingly worthless building components into new architectural elements. Through mock-ups, models, and drawings, Slaatto Morsbøl will present a new aesthetic—one that has remained hidden until now but can be unveiled through simple yet refined interventions. Throughout the exhibition, Prospekt will continuously evolve with new samples of the discovered materials.

Thursday - Friday 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

DAN:

I udstillingen Hands On udfordrer arkitektduoen Slaatto Morsbøl vanetænkning omkring genbrug i byggebranchen. Med Prospekt som base viderefører de deres feltarbejde fra affaldspladser og nedrivningssager, hvor materialer, der tidligere er blevet anset som værdiløse, bearbejdes og sættes sammen som nye komponenter. Med modeller, mock-ups, tegninger og materialeprøver åbnes der op for skjulte fortællinger og værdier i de henkastede materialer.

Som besøgende inviteres du til at sanse, stable, gentænke og undersøge materialerne på nært hold – og tage del i en større samtale om de logistiske udfordringer og den æstetik, der følger med genanvendelsen af vores fælles bygningsarv.

Torsdag - Fredag 16.00 - 19.00
Lørdag - Søndag 14.00 - 18.00

HouseEurope! Policy lab by bplus.xyz & station.plus: To Build Law film explores citizen‑led renovation reform in architecture.

  • Duration
    September 19, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Gloria Biograf
  • Address
    Rådhuspladsen 59, 1550 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Follow the becoming of the policy lab HouseEurope! To Build Law follows the architecture firm bplus.xyz (b+) and the teaching and research platform station.plus (s+) as they establish HouseEurope!, to propose industry reforms and shift cultural norms.

Produced by the Canadian Centre for Architecture, To Build Law is the second chapter of Groundwork, a three-part film and exhibition series exploring the conceptual development and field research of contemporary architects cultivating alternative modes of practice. The film closely observes the b+ team during various phases of conceptualization and development of a European Citizens' Initiative meant to incentivize renovation over demolition and new construction. Through this bottom-up legal tool, architecture becomes an open process of establishing partners, drafting legislation, filming stories, strategizing communications, coordinating campaigns, collecting votes, and building a movement.

  • The film was conceived by Francesco Garutti and Irene Chin and directed by Joshua Frank.
  • The film will be presented by HouseEurope! Initiators Olaf Grawert in collaboration with OBEL Award
  • Year: 2024, length: 49 min., language: English and German, subs: English.

DA:

Følg tilblivelsen af policy-laboratoriet HouseEurope! To Build Law følger arkitektfirmaet bplus.xyz (b+) og undervisnings- og forskningsplatformen station.plus (s+), mens de etablerer HouseEurope! med det formål at foreslå reformer i byggebranchen og ændre kulturelle normer.

To Build Law, produceret af Canadian Centre for Architecture, er det andet kapitel af Groundwork, en film- og udstillingsserie i tre dele, der udforsker den konceptuelle udvikling og feltforskning hos moderne arkitekter, der dyrker alternative praksisformer. Filmen observerer nøje b+-teamet i forskellige faser af konceptualisering og udvikling af et europæisk borgerinitiativ, der har til formål at fremme renovering frem for nedrivning og nybyggeri. Gennem dette bottom-up juridiske værktøj bliver arkitektur en åben proces med at etablere partnere, udarbejde lovgivning, filme historier, strategisere kommunikation, koordinere kampagner, indsamle stemmer og opbygge en bevægelse.

  • Filmen blev udtænkt af Francesco Garutti og Irene Chin og instrueret af Joshua Frank.
  • Filmen vil blive præsenteret af HouseEurope! Initiativtagere Olaf Grawert i samarbejde med OBEL Award
  • år: 2024, varighed: 49 min., sprog: engelsk og tysk, undertekster: engelsk.

  • Duration
    September 19, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    CAFx
  • Address
    Halmtorvet 27
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

ArchDaily’s Editor-in-Chief Christele Harrouk in conversation with three of the international winners of Next Practices 2025 and two of the previous winners, Danish studios Spacon & X and Tideland Studio.

Since 2020, ArchDaily Next Practices (previously Best New Practices) has spotlighted emerging professionals who challenge and redefine the boundaries of architecture. Across its first four editions, the initiative celebrated 85 teams from 32 countries—highlighting innovative approaches to sustainability, heritage, and community engagement. Now launching its fifth edition, the program continues to amplify underrepresented voices and expand the conversation on architecture’s role in shaping our world through bold ideas, local engagement, and original responses to global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and urbanization. Join ArchDaily in launching the new edition of Next Practices at CAFx on Friday, September 19. Doors open at 16.30, with the program beginning at 17.00

DAN:

ArchDailys chefredaktør Christele Harrouk i samtale med tre af de internationale vindere af Next Practices 2025 samt to tidligere vindere, tegnestuerne Spacon & X og Studio Tideland.

Siden 2020 har ArchDaily Next Practices (Tidligere Best New Practices) sat fokus på nye professionelle, der udfordrer og omdefinerer arkitekturens grænser. Gennem de første fire udgaver har initiativet hyldet 85 teams fra 32 lande – med fokus på innovative tilgange til bæredygtighed, kulturarv og samfundsengagement. Nu lanceres den femte udgave, hvor programmet fortsætter med at styrke underrepræsenterede stemmer og udvide samtalen om arkitekturens rolle i at forme vores verden gennem modige idéer, lokalt engagement og originale løsninger på globale udfordringer som klimaforandringer, ulighed og urbanisering. Deltag i ArchDaily’s lancering af den nye udgave af Next Practices ved CAFx fredag den 19. september. Dørene åbner kl. 16.30 – programmet starter kl. 17.00.

  • Duration
    September 19, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Gloria Biograf
  • Address
    Rådhuspladsen 59, 1550 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

On material extraction, processing and waste - with Rotor and Bêka & Lemoine in conversation

Transmutation is a series of 9 films made in collaboration between Bêka & Lemoine and Rotor, the well-known Brussels collective working on architecture, ecology and recycling. Shot at nine industrial sites within a 200km radius of Brussels, the films observe the circulation of materials in the contemporary economy, addressing issues such as the impact of industrial activity on the landscape, the processes that transform materials, and the ways in which industry produces and manages its waste. At this viewing you can experience a selection of 4 out of the 9 films in the series.

A film made by Bêka & Lemoine, year: 2024, length: 4 x 10 min. + 40 min. Conversation with Rotor and Bêka & Lemoine

The event is made possible by hub.brussels, l’Institut Français and the Italian Cultural Institute

DA:

Om materialeudvinding, bearbejdning og affald – med Rotor og Bêka & Lemoine i samtale

Transmutation er en serie på 9 film skabt i samarbejde mellem Bêka & Lemoine og Rotor, det velkendte Bruxelles-baserede kollektiv, der arbejder med arkitektur, økologi og genbrug. Filmene er optaget på ni industristeder inden for en radius af 200 km fra Bruxelles og observerer materialers cirkulation i den moderne økonomi. De behandler emner som industriens påvirkning af landskabet, de processer der omdanner materialer, samt hvordan industrien producerer og håndterer sit affald. Ved denne visning præsenteres et udvalg af 4 ud af de 9 film i serien.

En film af Bêka & Lemoine, år: 2024, varighed: 4 x 10 min. + 40 min. samtale med Rotor og Bêka & Lemoine

Visningen er gjort mulig af hub.brussels, l’Institut Français og Det Italienske Kulturinstitut.

Make Materials Matter World Premiere: Søren Pihlmann conversation. Sep 19, 2025 at Grand Teatret. Directors & architect in conversation.

  • Duration
    September 19, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Grand Teatret
  • Address
    Mikkel Bryggers Gade 8, 1460 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Join us for the world premiere of Make Materials Matter and meet the directors and the film’s protagonist, Søren Pihlmann, in conversation. A special Biennial beer will be served.

Danish architect Søren Pihlmann wants nothing less than to revolutionise how we build. He sees an inherent quality and beauty in existing materials and wants to explore alternative ways to the traditional practice of tearing down, throwing away and building anew. Louisiana Channel has followed Søren Pihlmann for three years and assembled a portrait of one of the most interesting characters in global architecture right now. Make Materials Matter explores Pihlmann’s approach in his own words and through his most prominent projects, from transforming an industrial building in Copenhagen to representing Denmark at the Biennale Architettura 2025 in Venice.

  • A film by Simon Weyhe and Marc-Christoph Wagner
  • Year: 2025, length: app. 45 min., language: Danish and English, subs: English, introduction in English
  • Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2025

DA:

Kom med til verdenspremieren på Make Materials Matter og mød instruktørerne samt filmens hovedperson, Søren Pihlmann, i samtale. Der serveres en særlig Biennale-øl i dagens anledning.

Den danske arkitekt Søren Pihlmann ønsker intet mindre end at revolutionere den måde, vi bygger på. Han ser en iboende kvalitet og skønhed i eksisterende materialer og vil udforske alternative metoder til den traditionelle praksis med at rive ned, smide ud og bygge nyt. Louisiana Channel har fulgt Søren Pihlmann i tre år og samlet et portræt af en af de mest interessante skikkelser i den globale arkitekturscene netop nu. Make Materials Matter undersøger Pihlmanns tilgang med hans egne ord og gennem nogle af hans mest markante projekter – fra transformationen af en industribygning i København til hans repræsentation af Danmark på Biennale Architettura 2025 i Venedig.

  • En film af Simon Weyhe og Marc-Christoph Wagner
  • År: 2025, varighed: ca. 45 min., sprog: dansk og engelsk, undertekster: engelsk, introduktion på engelsk
  • Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2025

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    DR Concert Hall
  • Address
    Ørestads Blvd. 13, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Design with acoustics in mind

Step inside DR Concert Hall and experience the stunning architecture, where design and function come together in perfect harmony. Designed by the french architect Jean Nouvel.

The tour includes a visit to the Concert Hall, a magnificent space where warm wooden panels surround the room, creating both an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Designed with acoustics in mind, the hall offers a rich, natural resonance that elevates the music to new heights and envelops the audience in a complete sound experience. Here, architecture and sonic artistry meet in a harmonious balance, making every concert truly special.

The tour also includes a visit to Studio 2, an impressive and versatile space where the characteristic wooden panels not only create a warm and inviting atmosphere but also serve as essential acoustic elements. Musicians from various genres come here to create and record music in a room that inspires creativity while ensuring crystal-clear sound. The studio’s flexible design accommodates everything from large orchestras to intimate live performances, with every corner thoughtfully crafted to bring music to life in the most authentic way.

Additionally, you'll get to see Studio 3, a smaller and more intimate space, well-suited for small ensembles and soloists.

We’ll end with a brief look inside the sound control rooms, where the technical side of production ensures the audio is always top-notch.

Whether you love music, architecture, or are simply curious, this tour offers a unique insight into the magical world of sound.

Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    CAFx
  • Address
    Halmtorvet 27 1700 København V
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

This panel brings together four female thinkers and practitioners—designers, historians, and scholars—whose work centers on material and embodied forms of knowledge. Framed through the lens of slowness, the conversation will explore themes of domesticity, care, and non-industrial, non-commodified materials, techniques, and labor.

Envisioned as a collaborative thought by the Columbia Natural Materials Lab and CAFx, the panel will ask: What genealogies of slowness have emerged alongside industrial and technological shifts? How can tactile, immersive engagements with “messy” materials resist the abstraction of digital culture? And what roles do time, temporality, and pace play in imagining architectures beyond extraction and automation?

Panelists:

Kate Orff, landscape architect and Founder of SCAPE, Bonnie Hvillum, Founder and Creative Director of Natural Material Studio, Nikoline Dyrup Carlsen, Architect, Founding partner and Director of SPACON&X and Lola Ben-Alon, Assistant Professor Columbia University, GSAPP, Director, Natural Materials Lab.


DA:

Dette panel samler fire kvindelige tænkere og praktikere – designere, historikere og forskere – hvis arbejde kredser om materielle og kropslige former for viden. Gennem et fokus på langsomhed vil samtalen udforske temaer som domesticitet, omsorg samt ikke-industrielle og ikke-kommodificerede materialer, teknikker og arbejdsformer.

Udformet som en fælles refleksion af Columbia Natural Materials Lab og CAFx stiller panelet spørgsmålene: Hvilke genealogier af langsomhed er opstået i kølvandet på industrielle og teknologiske skift? Hvordan kan taktile, immersive møder med “rodede” materialer modstå den digitale kulturs abstraktion? Og hvilken rolle spiller tid, temporalitet og tempo i forestillinger om arkitektur hinsides udvinding og automatisering?

Paneldeltagere:

Kate Orff, landskabsarkitekt og grundlægger af SCAPE, Bonnie Hvillum, grundlægger og kreativ direktør for Natural Material Studio, Nikoline Dyrup Carlsen, arkitekt, medstifter og direktør for SPACON&X, samt Lola Ben-Alon, lektor ved Columbia University, GSAPP, direktør for Natural Materials Lab.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Frederiksberg Courthouse
  • Address
    Howitzvej 32, 2000 Frederiksberg
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Frederiksberg’s listed courthouse from 1921 and the modern extension from 2012 may appear intentionally reserved in their expression—but now they’re opening their doors to curious eyes.

Frederiksberg’s protected courthouse, designed by Hack Kampmann in 1921, was joined ten years ago by a contemporary neighboring building, featuring brand-new courtrooms, offices, and facilities for court users. The extension, designed by 3XN, has a brick façade that blends with the architectural style of the surrounding buildings and Frederiksberg as a whole. A lighter tone of clay was chosen for the bricks to give the structure a more modern character.

A sense of seriousness

The challenge was to create an extension that communicates the seriousness of the institution architecturally—while still making people feel welcome. All windows in the courtrooms are positioned above eye level to prevent curious passersby from peeking in.

All users of the building—except the defendants—have access to an elongated atrium that divides the five-story building into two halves. The atrium runs the full length of the building from south to north and serves as a natural light source for all floors, including the courtrooms located on the two lower levels.

Step behind the walls

Few people dream of being invited to court—but when Open House offers access behind the walls, it’s a different story. When you show up at reception, it won’t be as a defendant or a victim—but as a curious visitor. And that curiosity is sure to be satisfied when you get the chance to explore both the new courthouse with its many facilities and the original listed building from 1921.

Registration required.

Open House at BLOX Apartment by OMA. Guided visits with views over city and harbour. Sat Sep 20, 10:00–17:00.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    BLOX
  • Address
    Bryghuspladsen 8, 1473 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Did you know that people actually live in BLOX on Bryghuspladsen square? Now you have the chance to see what it feels like to live at the top of such a distinctive building. Open House invites you to visit one of the 22 apartments in BLOX, designed by the Dutch architects OMA.

BLOX has been called everything from a “must-see” to an “abomination.” The distinctive, angular glass building on the waterfront—situated between the Royal Librarie’s Black Diamond and Langebro—is best known for housing the Danish Architecture Center. With its many stacked boxes, the building has both devoted fans and outspoken critics. Regardless of your opinion, BLOX has brought new life to what was once a rather desolate part of the city.

Visually, the stacked boxes call to mind the many shipping containers that once lined the harbour. And the many shades of green are a reflection of both the harbour waters and Copenhagen’s verdigris spires.

Peaceful—right in the city center

On the 4th and 5th floors of BLOX are 22 apartments ranging from 120 to 200 square meters in size, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and large terraces that offer stunning views of both the city and the harbour. Despite the fact that the entire building sits directly above one of Copenhagen’s busiest roads, the top of BLOX is remarkably peaceful.

In addition to the exhibitions at the Danish Architecture Center, the building also hosts a design shop, a fitness center, the Danish Design Center, and BLOXHUB—a co-working space for startups, established companies, and organisations working in sustainable urban development.

See the city from a new angle

If you visit the apartment during Open House, you'll get a rare chance to peek inside a private home at one of the city's most sought-after addresses. You'll be able to see the city and harbour from a new perspective—a view that only very few are privileged to experience.
All the apartments offer a phenomenal view and excellent natural light through the large windows.

Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Tietgenkollegiet
  • Address
    Rued Langgaards Vej 10-18, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Tietgenkollegiet's iconic, circular architecture is created with community at its core. The building is designed so that people naturally meet in the hallways, communal kitchens or the lovely common rooms, where both everyday life and traditions unfold. Nearly 400 students live here in a structure that supports both privacy and collective life. The kitchens provide a framework for close communities, while the courtyard and the open flow of the building invite activities, conversations and spontaneous socializing. The architecture is not only the setting, but also the life of the dormitory.

Where Architecture Shapes Community

In Copenhagen’s Ørestad district, Tietgenkollegiet stands as a striking example of how architecture can foster both individuality and togetherness. Inspired by traditional Chinese Hakka architecture, the circular building was designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg and completed in 2006 as a modern student residence.

Home to nearly 400 students, the building is organized around a central courtyard and features seven floors with shared kitchens, study rooms, and communal areas that encourage social interaction. The architectural design invites residents to meet naturally—whether in the open hallways, lively kitchens, or quiet nooks for study and reflection.

During Open House, you’ll be guided by a local resident and have the chance to explore how the dormitory’s thoughtful layout supports everyday life, traditions, and spontaneous encounters—making the building not just a place to live, but a community in motion.

There will be a guided tour every hour during the opening hours. No registration is needed.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Hotel Ottilia
  • Address
    Bryggernes Plads 7, 1799 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Once the birthplace of the world-famous Carlsberg beer, now a 4+ star design-led boutique hotel — this is Hotel Ottilia by Brøchner Hotels.

Located in the heart of the Carlsberg City District, the hotel brings new life to two iconic industrial buildings: the former malt chamber and the historic brewery. Original silos, raw concrete, golden discs, and signature round windows are just some of the preserved elements that define the architecture.

Hotel Ottilia stands as a bold example of how heritage and modern design can merge — transforming industrial legacy into an award-winning architectural landmark.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Hotel Danmark
  • Address
    Vester Voldgade 89, 1552 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Where classic Copenhagen meets contemporary design — Hotel Danmark by Brøchner Hotels is a bold architectural fusion in the heart of the city.

Set in two contrasting buildings — a listed 18th-century townhouse and a 1969 structure clad in 4,200 bottle-green tiles — the hotel reflects its surroundings through custom interiors inspired by nearby landmarks like Thorvaldsen’s Museum.

Inside, you'll find bespoke details: leather headboards echoing vintage car seats, green velvet walls, and marble floors. The rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of the city skyline. With its seamless blend of heritage and modernity, Hotel Danmark stands as a distinctive architectural landmark in Copenhagen.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Renseanlæg Lynetten
  • Address
    Refshalevej 250, 1432 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Visit Lynetten Wastewater Treatment Plant – Denmark’s largest treatment facility and a striking example of functional, technical concrete architecture in the Brutalist style from the 1970s.

It was constructed on reclaimed land near the Lynette Fort, just north of Refshaleøen in Copenhagen. The project began in 1973 as part of efforts to improve wastewater treatment in the Greater Copenhagen area and to meet the requirements of the new Environmental Protection Act of 1974. Today, the facility—alongside Avedøre and Damhusåen treatment plants—treats wastewater for 1.2 million Copenhagen residents.

Where does our wastewater end up?

During the guided tour, you’ll learn about the three water treatment stages: mechanical, biological, and chemical. You’ll also see how BIOFOS utilizes the energy and resources found in wastewater, and hear about the buildings, which came into use in 1980.

The harbor is evolving and expanding, and from the treatment plant, you'll get a unique perspective on its development—including the ongoing construction of Lynetteholm. The tour will also touch on local biodiversity in the surrounding area.

Registration is required.

Closed-toe shoes and long pants are mandatory. All visitors must wear a helmet and safety vest, which will be provided on site.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    The Chapel, Frederiksberg Hospital
  • Address
    Tesdorpfsvej 19, 2000 Frederiksberg (at the corner of Skadestuevej)
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

On the former Frederiksberg Hospital site lies an old chapel and garden, gently transformed over the summer by architects and artists. Through cleaning, repair, and careful reworking of the existing structure, they explored how to give the place new life with minimal additions. The result is a sensory architectural experience that points to new, sustainable ways of transforming with care and low resource use.During Open House 2025, visitors can experience the space and join guided tours (11:00 and 14:00) with the curatorial team, art historian, PhD, Marianne Krogh, and architect Sidsel Gelting Hodge, and participants from the participating teams.

The Group Behind

The three teams that have worked on the transformation of the chapel consist of:

Team 1

Architecture studio Verna, visual artist Julie Falk, and author and cultural geographer Emmy Laura Perez Fjalland. Based on Funen, architects Nanna Kley and Frederik Koefoed from Verna have built solid experience in transformation and the use of recycled materials. This is combined with the artistic and landscape-based insights of Julie Falk and Emmy Laura Perez Fjalland, who work performatively and critically with the histories and materials of place.

Team 2

Architecture studio A Part of Sum, artist and carpenter Line Hvidbjerg, and architect and apprentice bricklayer Lasse Buus. A Part of Sum consists of architects Philip Lütken, Emilie Boye Kjær, and Laurids Bager. The studio, rooted in Copenhagen, has experience from both Danish and international practice. Line Hvidbjerg and Lasse Buus contribute a special focus on craft processes and the transformation of materials. In addition, craft artist Karoline Bach Larsen contributes to the team.

Team 3

Hahn Lavsen, artist Rasmus Søndergaard Johannsen, and textile artist/weaver Marianne Noer. The architectural duo Hahn Lavsen, consisting of architects Caroline Hahn and Ebbe Lavsen, is based in Thy, Western Jutland. Their work is rooted in an ethically founded approach to transformation and draws on a background in restoration. Together with Rasmus Søndergaard Johannsen and Marianne Noer, they will develop new methods for understanding and revitalizing the existing. The team focuses on intangible cultural heritage and the value of reusing everything—without establishing hierarchies among materials.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Københavns Museum
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Free admission to the Museum of Copenhagen

Since 2020, the Museum of Copenhagen has been housed in an architectural gem at Stormgade 18. The building was constructed in 1893–94 as a public trustee’s office – a place where the state managed the estates of women and children who were legally incapacitated.

The architect H.J. Holm was strongly inspired by the Italian Renaissance when he designed the building, which features vividly decorated ceilings, stained-glass windows, intricate railings, and a distinctive attention to quality and detail.

This weekend, the museum opens its doors and offers free admission to all those interested in architecture and history.

Sign up for a guided tour with curator Thomas Roland and explore every corner of this history-filled building. Two different activity sheets invite children – and the young at heart – to go exploring in the beautiful house.

Langebro Bridge Tower: 1950s time capsule tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Langebro, Copenhagen. Harbor views & bascule pit exploration.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    The Bridge Tower at Langebro
  • Address
    Langebro, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

The Bridge Tower at Langebro is a fascinating time capsule from the 1950s, with its beautiful green exterior and fully preserved interior. Step inside the bridge tower, learn about the history of Langebro, and enjoy a spectacular view over Copenhagen Harbour as well as the bascule pit beneath the bridge.

Langebro carries 50,000 cars across daily, so you’ve probably crossed the bridge between Copenhagen and Amager yourself. Perhaps you’ve noticed the turquoise bridge tower rising up in the middle of the bridge. During Open House, you now have the chance for a unique look behind the façade.

From industrial harbour to recreational area

Langebro was completed in 1954. The man behind its construction was Kaj Gottlob, who served as both engineer and architect for the bridge. The new Langebro replaced the old wooden bridge from the 1600s, and with it came the ability to open for passing ship traffic in the busy industrial harbour.

When Langebro opens for ships, the bridge leaves at its centre lift, and their rear ends roll down into a bascule pit. This is operated from the bridge tower, which in 1954 was staffed around the clock. Back then, there were 12,000 openings a year; today the number is fewer than 200. This change tells the story of the harbour’s transformation from an industrial port to a recreational space.

Experience the original interior

During Open House, you can step inside the tower, which is normally closed to the public. Here, the interior remains untouched, and visitors can climb right to the top as well as down beneath the roadway to the bascule pit. See the deep chamber where the bridge leaves descend and the original 1954 machinery, still faithfully ensuring the bridge opens.

From the tower, you’ll enjoy a magnificent view over Copenhagen Harbour, with several of the 11 movable bridges in the Inner Harbour in sight.

Registration is required.

Mjølnerparken Transformation: Non-profit housing renovation tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Hothers Plads, Copenhagen. Urban renewal & resident relocation.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Mjølnerparken
  • Address
    Hothers Plads 6 a, 2200 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Experience the new Mjølnerparken and the changes that have taken place following the renovation of the area, which is still taking shape. Following the Danish government's 'parrallelsamfundslov' the non-profit housing has during the past years undergone a physical transformation and relocation of residents.

An area in transformation

With the renovation, courtyards have been enclosed, giving the area the feel of typical Copenhagen blocks, and selected blocks have been fitted with rooftop terraces. New road layouts, along with pedestrian and cycling paths, will create better connections for residents and visitors to the rest of Nørrebro, and a new shopping street will be established. Come and see Mjølnerparken as it looks now.

Københavns Klimakarré: Climate courtyard by Henning Larsen. Sep 20, 2025 at Landskronagade, Copenhagen. Rainwater reuse & green terraces.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Københavns klimakarré
  • Address
    Landskronagade 56, 2100 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

During Open House, you can experience a fully renovated courtyard by Henning Larsen Architects. Here, it’s not just the courtyard that is climate-friendly – the surrounding buildings are too. An innovative new façade provides both extra space and a boost to the heating efficiency.
Outer Østerbro has become a testing ground for sustainable urban renewal. Here you’ll find, among other things, an exciting new example of how to create a climate-friendly courtyard renovation.

Wooden terraces in the heart of greenery

In the courtyard of the Climate Block, rainwater from roofs and paved surfaces is reused – partly for toilets and laundry facilities in the apartments, and partly as a calming design element in the courtyard. The water flows through the space in a reflecting pool of varying widths. In the event of cloudbursts, the water is directed to an underground tunnel that ensures it eventually flows into the harbour.
The courtyard also features a charming old rear building with direct access to a raised terrace. A green belt of grass and plants winds through the space, surrounding a series of wooden decks where you can sit amidst the lush greenery.

A new façade outside the old

It’s not only the courtyard that has been upgraded. The buildings have been fitted with an extra façade on top of the old one, improving insulation without taking up interior space. In fact, it adds space through a series of narrow balconies. This additional layer also houses various pipes for electricity, rainwater, and new ventilation. The exterior is clad in wood, tiles, and façade panels, with flowers and plants climbing upwards.
Copenhagen’s courtyards cover roughly 6 million square metres – an area equivalent to 12 times the size of Fælledparken! During 
Open House, you can explore some of the city’s remarkable courtyards, normally reserved for those who live there.

DA

Under Open House kan du opleve en fuldt renoveret gårdhave tegnet af Henning Larsen Architects. Her er det ikke kun gårdhaven, der er klimavenlig – det er de omkringliggende bygninger også. En innovativ ny facade giver både ekstra plads og et løft til energieffektiviteten.

Ydre Østerbro er blevet et testområde for bæredygtig byfornyelse. Her finder du blandt andet et spændende nyt eksempel på, hvordan man kan skabe en klimavenlig gårdhaverenovering.

Træterrasser i hjertet af det grønne

I gården til Klimakarréen genanvendes regnvand fra tage og belagte overflader – dels til toiletter og vaskefaciliteter i lejlighederne, dels som et beroligende designelement i gårdrummet. Vandet løber gennem området i et reflekterende bassin med varierende bredde. Ved skybrud ledes vandet til en underjordisk tunnel, som sikrer, at det til sidst strømmer ud i havnen.

Gården rummer også en charmerende gammel bagbygning med direkte adgang til en hævet terrasse. Et grønt bælte af græs og planter slynger sig gennem rummet og omkranser en række trædæk, hvor man kan sidde omgivet af frodig beplantning.

En ny facade uden på den gamle

Det er ikke kun gårdhaven, der er blevet fornyet. Bygningerne har fået en ekstra facade uden på den gamle, hvilket forbedrer isoleringen uden at optage plads indendørs. Faktisk tilføjer den ekstra plads i form af en række smalle altaner. Dette nye lag rummer også forskellige installationer til el, regnvand og ventilation. Yderfacaden er beklædt med træ, tegl og facadeplader, hvor blomster og planter vokser opad.

Københavns gårdhaver dækker samlet set ca. 6 millioner kvadratmeter – et areal svarende til 12 gange Fælledparken! Under Open House kan du udforske nogle af byens bemærkelsesværdige gårdrum, som til daglig kun er forbeholdt beboerne

Københavnerkarréen Courtyard: Urban garden tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Baggesensgade, Copenhagen. Nørrebro green oasis with wild grass areas.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Københavnerkarréen
  • Address
    Baggesensgade 28-30, 2200 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In the heart of Nørrebro, tucked behind Nørrebrogade and Blågårdsgade, lies the courtyard known as “Københavnerkarréen,” a green oasis for the surrounding residents. During Open House, you can step inside this courtyard, which combines an urban character with wilder areas of tall grass and herbs.

It’s easy to forget just how many beautiful, spacious courtyards are hidden throughout Copenhagen—even in some of the city’s most densely built neighbourhoods. Københavnerkarréen is one of these, offering a quiet refuge once you step through the gateway from the busy Nørrebrogade.

Connection to other courtyards

The courtyard was designed by landscape architect Lone Van Deurs and were renovated by the City of Copenhagen in the late 1980s.

You might wonder why the municipality would fund renovations for private courtyards. The reason is that courtyards contribute to making Copenhagen a desirable place to live—and for many residents, they are the most important access to nature in their daily lives.

A maze of little corners

The central area of the courtyard is open, with an urban feel created by coloured, soft asphalt, trampolines, and small hills. The many recesses in the buildings form cosy little corners, each given a personal touch with tables, chairs, parasols, planter boxes, insect hotels, birdhouses, and pots. The courtyard also features tall trees, shrubs, and impressive climbing plants that cover parts of the façades. There’s room here for both neatly trimmed hedges and wilder sections with tall grass and herbs.

During Open House, you’ll be reminded that behind the city’s hard brick walls lie flowers and fruit trees. Normally, they’re seen only by those who live here—but during Open House, you’re invited inside.

Renovated courtyard garden in Copenhagen’s Fuglekvarteret – nature, rainwater solutions, secret paths, and green oasis.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Nattergalevej Courtyard
  • Address
    Nattergalevej 54, 2400 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Experience a newly renovated courtyard garden from in the Fuglekvarteret neighbourhood of Nordvest. Explore this lush garden that invites wild nature into the city while also incorporating smart rainwater solutions to handle the heavy cloudbursts we can expect more of in the future.

On Nattergalevej, you’ll find a great example of how a long, narrow courtyard can be filled with nature – while also integrating a built-in rainwater management system. The courtyard is the result of a collaboration between the City of Copenhagen and HOFOR, and was designed by MASU landscape architects, who also created the enchanting park at the new Hans Christian Andersen museum.

In this property, rainwater from the roof is reused both for the communal laundry and as part of the courtyard’s landscape. While the rainwater tank can hold 40 m³, the courtyard itself can hold about 288 m³!

A stream running through the courtyard

How do you make room for so much water? The courtyard features ditches and rain gardens that function as retention basins, winding like a long, meandering “park strip” through the entire space.

Instead of asphalt, clay brick paving directs water to the right places. The rain gardens are planted with grasses and herbs, and overall, nature has been brought in with 46 newly planted trees, fruit bushes, and perennials.

Secret paths and small bridges

Even the playground is made from natural materials, and the secret paths and wooden bridges over the water are a hit with both children and adults. The courtyard also features varied terrain that creates niches for relaxing. In one part of the courtyard, a large circular bench invites gatherings for festive occasions.

During Open House, you can take a walk through the courtyard – and perhaps be inspired to incorporate water into your own garden design.

DA

Oplev en nyrenoveret gårdhave i Fuglekvarteret i Nordvest. Udforsk den frodige have, som inviterer den vilde natur ind i byen og samtidig integrerer smarte regnvandsløsninger til at håndtere de kraftige skybrud, vi må forvente flere af i fremtiden.

På Nattergalevej finder du et glimrende eksempel på, hvordan en lang, smal gård kan fyldes med natur – samtidig med at den rummer et indbygget system til regnvandshåndtering. Gårdhaven er resultatet af et samarbejde mellem Københavns Kommune og HOFOR og er tegnet af MASU landskabsarkitekter, der også står bag den stemningsfulde park ved det nye H.C. Andersen-museum.

Her genanvendes regnvand fra taget både til det fælles vaskeri og som en del af gårdrummets landskab. Regnvandstanken kan rumme 40 m³, mens selve gården kan tilbageholde omkring 288 m³!

En bæk gennem gården

Hvordan skaber man plads til så meget vand? Gården rummer grøfter og regnhaver, der fungerer som forsinkelsesbassiner og slynger sig som et langt, bugtende “parkanlæg” gennem hele området.

I stedet for asfalt leder belægning med lersten vandet de rigtige steder hen. Regnhaverne er beplantet med græsser og urter, og naturen er generelt trukket ind med 46 nyplantede træer, frugtbuske og stauder.

Hemmelige stier og små broer

Selv legepladsen er opført i naturmaterialer, og de hemmelige stier og træbroer over vandet er populære blandt både børn og voksne. Gårdhaven byder også på varieret terræn, der skaber små kroge til afslapning. Ét sted i gården inviterer en stor, cirkulær bænk til samvær og festlige sammenkomster.

Under Open House kan du gå en tur gennem gården – og måske lade dig inspirere til selv at inddrage vand i din have.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Courtyard at Askøgade
  • Address
    Entrance of the corner of Askøgade and Vognmandsmarken, 2100 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In outer Østerbro, you’ll find a courtyard designed with an eye to the future. The Courtyard of the Future on Askøgade has become a green oasis with the implementation of climate adaptation initiatives. Take a look inside during Open House and learn about a climate project that has been named Best in Denmark. The Courtyard of the Future on Askøgade is part of Klimakvarteret in Østerbro, Copenhagen’s first climate-resilient neighborhood.

Here, the City of Copenhagen and local residents have joined forces to create a climate-friendly urban oasis that can handle vast amounts of rainwater and mitigate the increased flooding risks of tomorrow.

Handles Enough Water to Fill Five City Buses

Built in 2020, the Courtyard of the Future on Askeøgade comprises a green center that is both the heart and brain of the climate project.

An elevated wooden walkway winds through the green courtyard, creating a series of recreational areas for residents. Under the walkway, a green “basin” spans the length of the courtyard with a trench down the middle. Rainwater from cloudbursts is led from the rain gutters to the trench. The aim is to relieve pressure on the sewer system and reduce the risk of basements and buildings flooding. For ordinary rain showers, the runoff is collected in a rainwater bed where it can be used for watering plants.

The rainwater architecture in this courtyard can handle enough water to fill five city buses. And that’s why it has been named one of Denmark’s best climate-adaptation projects by the philanthropic association Realdania.

Experience More Courtyards

This courtyard is part of the City of Copenhagen’s ongoing efforts to revitalize residential courtyards, bringing more nature to the city and creating more recreational areas. The city has renovated 550 courtyards over the past 50 years.

During Open House, you can experience a number of Copenhagen’s courtyards, both older and newer, such as Klimakarréen, Københavnerkarréen and Nattergalevej.

DA

På Ydre Østerbro finder du en gårdhave med blikket rettet mod fremtiden. Fremtidens Gårdhave på Askøgade er blevet en grøn oase gennem en række klimatilpasningstiltag. Kig indenfor under Open House og hør om et klimatilpasningsprojekt, der er kåret som Danmarks bedste. Gårdhaven på Askøgade er en del af Klimakvarteret på Østerbro – Københavns første klimarobuste bydel.

Her har Københavns Kommune og lokale beboere slået sig sammen for at skabe en klimavenlig urban oase, der kan håndtere store mængder regnvand og mindske fremtidens stigende oversvømmelsesrisici.

Kan rumme vand svarende til fem busser

Opført i 2020 består Fremtidens Gårdhave på Askøgade af et grønt centrum, der både er hjertet og hjernen i klimatilpasningsprojektet.

En hævet træpromenade slynger sig gennem den grønne gård og skaber en række rekreative områder for beboerne. Under promenaden strækker et grønt ”bassin” sig langs hele gårdrummet med en grøft i midten. Regnvand fra skybrud ledes fra tagrenderne ned i grøften. Formålet er at aflaste kloaksystemet og reducere risikoen for oversvømmelser i kældre og bygninger. Ved almindelige regnskyl opsamles vandet i et regnbed, hvorfra det kan bruges til at vande planter.

Regnvandsarkitekturen i denne gård kan håndtere en mængde vand svarende til fem bybusser. Derfor er projektet blevet udnævnt til et af Danmarks bedste klimatilpasningsprojekter af den filantropiske forening Realdania.

Oplev flere gårdhaver

Denne gårdhave er en del af Københavns Kommunes løbende indsats for at forny byens gårdrum – med mere natur i byen og flere rekreative områder. Gennem de seneste 50 år har kommunen renoveret 550 gårdhaver.

Under Open House kan du opleve en række af Københavns gårdhaver, både ældre og nyere, såsom Klimakarréen, Københavnerkarréen og Nattergalevej.

Birkegade Rooftop Garden: Secret green oasis tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Birkegade 4, Copenhagen. 7th floor garden with city views.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Birkegade Rooftop
  • Address
    Birkegade 4, 2200 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

A leaky roof became a playful green retreat atop an old Nørrebro building — and now you’re invited in, as Open House opens the gates to the rooftop garden on Birkegade. Come and experience a unique, recreational green space in one of the densest areas of Copenhagen.
It’s not something you’d spot — unless you knew it was there. At least not from the street below on Birkegade, in the heart of trendy Nørrebro. But high above, a green oasis unfolds with views over the city’s rooftops. The rooftop garden is usually reserved for residents of the building, but now you have the chance to explore one of Nørrebro’s hidden — and most unique — urban spaces. A secret garden.

From leaky roof to green rooftop garden

It all started with a leaky roof. The residents of the housing cooperative dreamed of having an outdoor space — something their backyard couldn’t offer. They wanted better conditions for urban living and more child-friendly homes. With help from JDS Architects, a lush rooftop garden was created: an oasis with a grassy hill, a wooden deck with a barbecue and outdoor kitchen, and a vibrant orange activity area with a soft sports surface.

Climb a building

The rooftop terrace sits at the 7th–8th floor level and is only accessible via the two main staircases — so be ready for a bit of a climb, as there’s no elevator. But like with any ascent, the reward awaits at the top. Open House at the Birkegade rooftop is a rare opportunity to see how the city’s 100-year-old buildings can still provide amazing spaces for life, leisure, and community.

Registration is required.

Royal Cast Collection: 2000 plaster sculptures tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Vestindisk Pakhus, Copenhagen. 7 floors of Western art history.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Vestindisk Pakhus
  • Address
    Toldbodgade 40, 1253 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

A Journey Through Sculptural History

Hidden away in the atmospheric West India Warehouse on Copenhagen’s harbourfront lies one of the city’s most remarkable treasures: the Royal Cast Collection. The collection houses approximately 2,000 plaster casts of the most famous sculptures in Western art history, primarily from antiquity but also from the Renaissance, with Michelangelo as the highlight.

First exhibited in 1895, the collection has had a colourful history, from years in storage to its grand reopening in 1984 in its current home. Today, its seven floors combine raw timber beams, thick walls, Rococo flourishes, and Neoclassical elegance.

During Open House, visitors can explore all seven floors of the warehouse — a striking blend of raw timber beams, thick walls, Rococo and Neoclassical details — and step into the ’King’s Room’, the Danish West India Company’s preserved boardroom from 1781.

Guided tours with curator Henrik Holm and “slow looking” sessions with art educator Emma Blomberg invite you to pause, take in the details, and immerse yourself in a single work of art.

Programme

Guided tour with curator Henrik Holm

On Saturday and Sunday at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, and 16:00 there will be a guided tour with curator Henrik Holm.

Slow down in an authentic past. Raw wooden structures, thick walls, and Rococo blend with Neoclassicism. We stroll through the West India Warehouse’s seven floors, including the “King’s Room,” the uniquely preserved boardroom of the Danish West India Company from 1781.

Participation is free and requires no registration. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is in Danish.

Slow Looking with Emma Blomberg

On Sunday at 11:45, 13:45, and 15:45 you can join art educator Emma Blomberg in Slow looking in front of a selected sculpture from the collection.

Join us as we slow down together and immerse ourselves in a single work for 30 minutes. Participation is free and requires no registration. All three sessions are in Danish.

Brønshøj Water Tower: Historic 1928 functionalist architecture tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Brønshøjvej 29, Copenhagen. Cultural venue with unique acoustics.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Brønshøj Water Tower
  • Address
    B
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

At one of Copenhagen’s highest points stands Brønshøj Water Tower, a 34-meter in-situ cast concrete structure built in 1928. Designed by architect Ib Lunding under city architect Poul Holsøe, it is among the earliest examples of functionalist architecture and today heritage listed. More than a district landmark, the tower has become a meeting place and part of the capital’s cultural infrastructure – a raw concrete frame where sound, light, body, and architecture merge into immersive experiences.

Since 2019 it has served as a cultural venue, celebrated for its extraordinary acoustics and unique architectural character.

Courtyard of the Future: Straussvej climate-adaptive green space. Sep 20, 2025 at Straussvej 19, Copenhagen. Rainwater management & sustainable design.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Private Courtyard on Straussvej
  • Address
    Straussvej 19, 2450 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Climate-Adaptive Green Spaces

How can we create green urban spaces that are recreational, climate-adapted, and sustainable? This is the question explored by The Courtyards of the Future – a demonstration project initiated by the City of Copenhagen. The courtyard at Straussvej is Denmark’s first courtyard with a biologically filtered rainwater pond, where water cleans itself, shapes the atmosphere, and becomes a resource for play and recreation.

Rainwater as a Resource

Here, rainwater is an active part of city life: everyday rainfall creates atmosphere and recreational value, while cloudbursts are managed by infiltration or temporary storage, easing the pressure on sewers and reducing flooding risks. Visible rainwater management is combined with a lush courtyard featuring a playground, orchard, hill, greenhouse, and water play areas – along with seating where residents and visitors can pause and rest.

Building Sustainably

The project was designed with sustainability in focus. The orangery, sheds, terraces, and benches are built from surplus and recycled materials, including old windows and discarded wood. The “climate edge,” which directs and stores water, is constructed with crushed recycled concrete instead of gravel, and paving stones have been reused from Copenhagen’s streets and squares. In this way, water management becomes not just a technical solution, but a central part of the courtyard’s architecture, aesthetics, and atmosphere.

The Courtyards of the Future are developed through close collaboration between the City of Copenhagen, HOFOR, residents, and the consultant team BOGL, WSP Danmark, Lendager Group, and Junckerhaven. The project has received recognition from Realdania as one of Denmark’s best climate adaptation projects and in 2023 was awarded the Danish Concrete Innovation Prize.

DA

Klimatilpassede grønne byrum

Hvordan kan vi skabe grønne byrum, der både er rekreative, klimatilpassede og bæredygtige? Det er spørgsmålet, som Fremtidens Gårdhaver udforsker – et demonstrationsprojekt igangsat af Københavns Kommune. Gårdhaven på Straussvej er Danmarks første gårdhave med et biologisk filtreret regnvandsbassin, hvor vandet renser sig selv, skaber stemning og bliver en ressource til leg og rekreation.

Regnvand som ressource

Her er regnvandet en aktiv del af bylivet: Hverdagsregn skaber atmosfære og rekreativ værdi, mens skybrud håndteres gennem nedsivning eller midlertidig opmagasinering, hvilket aflaster kloakkerne og reducerer risikoen for oversvømmelser. Synlig regnvandshåndtering kombineres med en frodig gårdhave med legeplads, frugthave, bakke, drivhus og vandlegeområder – samt siddepladser, hvor beboere og besøgende kan holde pause og nyde omgivelserne.

At bygge bæredygtigt

Projektet er designet med fokus på bæredygtighed. Orangeriet, skurene, terrasserne og bænkene er bygget af overskuds- og genbrugsmaterialer, herunder gamle vinduer og kasseret træ. Den såkaldte ”klimakant”, som leder og opbevarer vand, er konstrueret af knust genbrugsbeton i stedet for grus, og brosten er genbrugt fra Københavns gader og pladser. På den måde bliver vandhåndtering ikke kun en teknisk løsning, men en central del af gårdhavens arkitektur, æstetik og atmosfære.

Fremtidens Gårdhaver er udviklet i tæt samarbejde mellem Københavns Kommune, HOFOR, beboere samt konsulentteamet BOGL, WSP Danmark, Lendager Group og Junckerhaven. Projektet har modtaget anerkendelse fra Realdania som et af Danmarks bedste klimatilpasningsprojekter og blev i 2023 tildelt Dansk Betons Innovationspris.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Københavns Museum
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Free admission to the Museum of Copenhagen

Since 2020, the Museum of Copenhagen has been housed in an architectural gem at Stormgade 18. The building was constructed in 1893–94 as a public trustee’s office – a place where the state managed the estates of women and children who were legally incapacitated.

The architect H.J. Holm was strongly inspired by the Italian Renaissance when he designed the building, which features vividly decorated ceilings, stained-glass windows, intricate railings, and a distinctive attention to quality and detail.

This weekend, the museum opens its doors and offers free admission to all those interested in architecture and history.

Sign up for a guided tour with curator Thomas Roland and explore every corner of this history-filled building. Two different activity sheets invite children – and the young at heart – to go exploring in the beautiful house.

Private Homes in Urbanplanen: Open House tour of 3,000 homes. Sep 21, 2025 at Lygtemagerstien 24, Copenhagen. Apartment buildings, townhouses & sustainable homes.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Urbanplanen
  • Address
    Lygtemagerstien 24, 2300 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Urbanplanen is a public housing development located in a residential area, approximately 3 km from the city center. The neighbourhood consists of 3,000 homes, accommodating around 6,000 residents.

While many Danes may have heard of Urbanplanen, the area today is quite different from its past reputation as a housing district with a vulnerable reputation. Decades ago, it was often viewed as a challenging place to live. However, significant renovations and targeted social initiatives have transformed the community. In 2020, a new park, Remiseparken, was established, which has since become a popular gathering spot for families with children, offering a welcoming environment for outdoor activities and community events.

During Open House we invite you to explore three homes in Urbanplanen.

The types of homes, you can visit

Apartment Buildings

These five-story structures were constructed of concrete in the mid-1960s, comprising a total of 753 homes.

Townhouses

These two-story townhouses, also made of concrete and built during the same period, include 266 homes.

Sustainable Family Homes

These modern family residences were built as part of the overall development plan for Urbanplanen. They feature 66 homes ranging from 56 to 114 m², with one to four rooms. Designed as low-energy homes, they meet contemporary energy efficiency standards and include features like solar panels and green roofs, resulting in low utility costs.

Registration is required, you will be able to visit all three homes with one registration.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Address
    Nikolaj plads 10
  • Partner
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Year
    2025

Join us for a trip up the historic Nikolaj Tower and enjoy a panoramic view of Copenhagen from 35 metres above the ground. From here, you’ll have a clear view of many of the city’s architectural landmarks – from the Marble Church, inaugurated in 1894, to Bjarke Ingels' CopenHill, from the 16-kilometre-long Øresund Bridge to Denmark’s first high-rise buildings: the Bellahøj Towers.

Multiple tours will take place on both days, starting at 11:30 AM. Admission is free, but capacity is limited. Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Bagsværd Church
  • Address
    Taxvel 14-16, 2880 Bagsværd
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Step inside one of Denmark’s most iconic modern churches and experience the unique building by Jørn Utzon – the architect behind the Sydney Opera House. Inaugurated on August 15, 1976, Bagsværd Church is a unique space where soft, natural light flows across curved concrete ceilings and calm, white walls and lights up the aisle and the corridors.

Inspired by clouds

From the outside, the building appears modest, almost industrial. But behind the simple façade lies a surprising interior. The organically shaped vaults in the ceiling were inspired by drifting clouds – a vision that Utzon translated into concrete.

During Open House you are invited to discover Bagsværd Church at your own pace. At 13:00 and 15:00 there will guided tours in english where you will be introduced to the architecture of the church.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Transfer
  • Address
    Sønder Hoved, 1432 København
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

This hands-on workshop explores soil chromatography as a slow, analog visual technique to read the stories embedded in urban soils. By extracting color patterns from local earth samples, participants engage with the material and non-human world (microbes, minerals, histories) through attentive observation. Inspired by artistic research practice “berl-birl,” we pause to listen to what soil reveals when we stop extracting and start relating. Participants will create their own chromatograms while reflecting on slowness as a way to mend systems, deepen urban knowledge, and cultivate care in the age of acceleration.

DAN:

Denne praksisbaserede workshop udforsker jordkromatografi som en langsom, analog, visuel teknik til at læse de historier, der er indlejret i byens jord. Ved at udtrække farvemønstre fra lokale jordprøver engagerer deltagerne sig i den materielle og ikke-menneskelige verden (mikrober, mineraler, historier) gennem opmærksom iagttagelse. Inspireret af den kunstneriske forskningspraksis “berl-birl” standser vi op for at lytte til, hvad jorden afslører, når vi stopper med at udvinde og i stedet begynder at indgå i relation. Deltagerne skaber deres egne kromatogrammer, mens de reflekterer over langsomhed som en måde at hele systemer, uddybe byviden og fremme omsorg i accelerationens tidsalder.

Free Copenhagen exhibition: handcrafted wearable objects, plant diagrams & talismans – slow down, connect with nature. Pop-ups September‑October.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    HF Bryggen
  • Address
    Have 42, 2300 København S
  • Partner
    PRYD
  • Year
    2025

Grobund

Projektgruppen PRYD, etableret i 2025 af guldsmed Marie Rimmen og guldsmede og arkitekter Caroline Wegener og Michala Eken, viser håndlavede, bærbare objekter med afsæt i biennalens tema SLOW DOWN. Udstillingen lægger op til at sætte tempoet ned og forundres. Med plantediagrammer, talismaner og take-away-haver danner udstillingen grobund for samtale og refleksioner om forudsætningen for livet og bymenneskets forbundethed til naturen.

Udstillingen åbnes i en kolonihave i HF Bryggen med efterfølgende pop-ups i kunstnernes guldsmedeværksteder. Til åbningen i kolonihaven afholdes en workshop, hvor de fremmødte kan deltage i skabelsen af et midlertidigt fællesværk med afsæt i temaet.

OBS: Udstillingen er gratis.

Pop-Up:

Gammel Mønt 37, 1118 København K (v. Marie Rimmen)

25. - 26. september, 11-16

27. september, 11-14

Linnésgade 27, 1361 København K (v. Michala Eken)

2. - 4. oktober, 12-16

Kompagnistræde 37, 1208 København K (v. Caroline Wegener)

8. - 10. oktober, 12-17.30

Finissage

10. oktober, 18-21 / Kulturnat

Kompagnistræde 37, 1208 Kbh K

ENG:

The artist group PRYD, established in 2025 by goldsmith Marie Rimmen and goldsmiths and architects Caroline Wegener and Michala Eken, presents handcrafted, wearable objects inspired by the biennale theme SLOW DOWN. The exhibition invites visitors to slow down and marvel. With plant diagrams, talismans, and take-away gardens, the exhibition creates fertile ground for conversation and reflections on the conditions for life and the urban human’s connection to nature.

The exhibition opens in an allotment garden in HF Bryggen, followed by pop-ups in the artists’ goldsmith workshops. At the opening in the garden, a workshop will be held where attendees can take part in creating a temporary collaborative piece inspired by the theme.

OBS: The exhibition is free.

Pop-Up:

Gammel Mønt 37, 1118 København K (v. Marie Rimmen)

25. - 26. september, 11-16

27. september, 11-14

Linnésgade 27, 1361 København K (v. Michala Eken)

2. - 4. oktober, 12-16

Kompagnistræde 37, 1208 København K (v. Caroline Wegener)

8. - 10. oktober, 12-17.30

Finissage

10. oktober, 18-21 / Kulturnat

Kompagnistræde 37, 1208 Kbh K

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Skovhavelunden
  • Address
    Lundtoftegade 23, 2200 København
  • Partner
    Til Vægs
  • Year
    2025

Høstfest i Skovhavelunden

Det er med stor fornøjelse, at vi inviterer til en dag med masser af gratis aktiviteter, kunst og høstfest for naboer, frivillige, venner af huset og nysgerrige i Skovhavelunden.

Efter sidste års succes kan du opleve og besøge forskellige aktiviteter og udstillinger rundt om Skovhavelunden. Alle arrangementer på dagen er inspireret af og muliggjort af naturen og planterne i området.

Gardening is Activism er et flerårigt, aktivistisk kunstprojekt af Skye Jin, der kobler kunst i det offentlige rum med permakulturdesign. Skovhavelunden ligger i AKB Lundtoftegade i København, hvor Skye Jin, udstillingsplatformen Til Vægs og beboere i det almene boligområde AKB Lundtoftegade har etableret en skovhave – mellem asfalt og boligblokke.

ENG:

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to a day filled with plenty of free activities, art, and a harvest festival for neighbors, volunteers, friends of the house, and the curious at Skovhavelunden.

Following last year’s success, you can experience and visit various activities and exhibitions around Skovhavelunden. All events of the day are inspired by and made possible by the nature and plants in the area.

Gardening is Activism is a multi-year activist art project by Skye Jin that connects public art with permaculture design. Skovhavelunden is located in AKB Lundtoftegade in Copenhagen, where Skye Jin, the exhibition platform Til Vægs, and residents of the public housing area AKB Lundtoftegade have established a forest garden—between asphalt and apartment blocks.

Explore Copenhagen's wild flora with cyanotype art workshop, 20-21 June, 12-18, supported by CA Biennial 2025.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    KBH+ / KTK-Grunden
  • Address
    Emblasgade 175, 2100 København
  • Partner
  • Year
    2025

Ukrudt i nyt lys

I en tid præget af forandring og usikkerhed inviterer vi til en fælles udforskning af det, der spirer i København: byens vilde flora, ofte betragtet som ukrudt. Med solen som medskaber laver vi cyanotypier – et kunstværk, der spejler skønheden i det oversete og minder os om værdien af det, der allerede findes. Deltagerne indsamler planter på stedet eller bidrager med gaver fra byens forskellige hjørner, som placeres dér, hvor de blev fundet. Trykket kan skabes på et stort kort over København eller bygges af mindre ark, der forenes i en større helhed. Gennem dette fremhæver vi byens potentiale og stiller spørgsmål ved, hvad vi værdsætter, mens vi i fredelig protest reflekterer over byens fremtid og dens natur.

Workshoppen afholdes d. 20-21. Begge dage fra 12:00-18:00

Støttet af Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025 via Dreyers Fond


ENG

In a time marked by change and uncertainty, we invite you to a collective exploration of what is sprouting in Copenhagen: the city’s wild flora, often regarded as weeds. With the sun as co-creator, we make cyanotypes – an artwork that reflects the beauty of the overlooked and reminds us of the value of what already exists. Participants collect plants on-site or contribute offerings from different corners of the city, placed where they were found. The print can be created on a large map of Copenhagen or composed of smaller sheets joined into a greater whole. Through this, we highlight the city's potential and question what we value, while peacefully reflecting on the city’s future and its nature.

The workshop will be held on the 20-21. Both days from 12:00-18:00

Supported by Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025 via Dreyers Fond

Guided tour (DA) at Museum of Copenhagen about its Renaissance-inspired building. Sat Sep 20, 11:00–12:00; Sun 13:00–14:00.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Museum of Copenhagen
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Discover the intriguing history of the building now home to the Museum of Copenhagen. Constructed in 1893–94 as a guardianship office, it was where the state managed the finances of legally incapacitated women and children.
Architect H.J. Holm drew strong inspiration from the Italian Renaissance but also incorporated modern styles of the late 19th century, including the popular Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). The building reflects Holm’s high standards for quality materials and craftsmanship, alongside his practical approach to its functions. Inside, you’ll find colorful decorated ceilings, stained glass windows, ornate railings, and a central heating system.

Theater Museum at Court Theater: Baroque theater tour. Sep 20, 2025 at Christiansborg Ridebane, Copenhagen. 1767 theater with 7.2m ceiling height.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    The Court Theater
  • Address
    Christiansborg Ridebane 16, 1218 København K
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

The Theatre Museum in the Court Theatre is opening its doors exclusively for two guided tours themed “The Storytelling Restoration,” showcasing examples of historical traces and details in the interior.

The Baroque theatre’s auditorium and stage are presented alongside the large, bright foyer, which serves as a living testament to the time when the room functioned as the king’s armory. In the early years after the Court Theatre’s opening in 1767, the foyer was used as a reception area for guests attending the many masquerades. Today, the room retains its original ceiling height of 7.2 meters.

The Court Theatre is part of the first Christiansborg Palace and, throughout history, with its location at the heart of power, has served as a cultural-historical mirror of society’s development—especially during the period from absolute monarchy to democracy in Denmark.

The guided tours are in danish.

City Shrine installation opening by Dicki Lakha. Tibetan prayer wheel interpretation at Transfer, Copenhagen. Sep 20, 2025. Inauguration ritual at 15:45.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Transfer
  • Address
    Refshalevej 153
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

City Shrine is an interpretation of the Tibetan prayer wheel. While spinning each wheel you are invited to send an intention into our world and the prayer wheel will work as a vehicle for your prayer. Traditionally you pray for all living beings, To dispel the miseries of the world.

At the opening the Tibetan Community will perform an inauguration ritual at 15.45h.

All are welcome!

DA:

City Shrine er en fortolkning af det tibetanske bedhjul. Når du drejer på hvert hjul, inviteres du til at sende en intention ud i verden, og bedhjulet vil fungere som et redskab for din bøn. Traditionelt beder man for alle levende væsener, for at fordrive verdens lidelser.

Ved åbningen vil det tibetanske samfund udføre en indvielsesritual kl. 15.45.

Alle er velkomne!

Explore Frederiksstaden's 1787 Medical Museion, guided tour through Denmark's medical history from antiquity to modern genetics.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Medical Museion
  • Address
    Bredgade 62, 1260 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In the heart of Frederiksstaden, the beautiful, classically inspired building from 1787—originally home to the Royal Surgical Academy—now houses the Medical Museion.

The museum is surrounded by the historic buildings of Denmark’s first hospital, the former Frederiks Hospital, which today is known as Designmuseum Danmark.

Buildings of Medical History

During Open House you will be able to participate in a guided tour through the medical history that the building is housing.  

The tour starts in the Auditorium – an architectural masterpiece by Peter Meyn with visual references to the Pantheon. Today the building is a museum and the tour focuses on perceptions of the body and understandings of disease from antiquity to modern-day genetics, from earlier humoral theories to today’s chemical analyses. Here you get a broad outline of medical history set in rooms that formerly held students studying surgery as well as the professor's residence. Hear about the history of surgery in Denmark, about bloodletting and intestinal irrigation as well as older ideas of what caused cholera.

Registration is required

BLOX guided tour: OMA-designed Danish Architecture Center. Sep 20, 2025 at Bryghuspladsen, Copenhagen. Robotic parking & harbor views.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    BLOX
  • Address
    Bryghuspladsen 10, 1473 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Join a guided tour of BLOX, home to the Danish Architecture Center, and discover one of Copenhagen’s most striking landmarks.

Designed by award-winning Dutch architects OMA, led by Ellen van Loon, the building transformed a once-forgotten harborfront into a bold link between city and water. Explore OMA’s visionary design and see how BLOX blends spaces for work, play, fitness, learning, and living.

Experience its advanced robotic parking system, step behind the scenes of DAC’s workspaces, and enjoy current exhibitions—before ending with breathtaking rooftop views over the harbor and skyline.

Registration is required.

Copenhagen food & design tour with Spacon. Visit bakeries, restaurants & cultural hubs. Sep 20, 2025. Bike tour exploring design-food relationship.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    CAFx
  • Address
    Halmtorvet 27, 1700 København
  • Partner
    Spacon
  • Year
    2025

Spacon invites you on a journey through Copenhagen’s food and design culture, visiting spaces we have designed across the city: from bakeries and taquerias to restaurants and cultural hubs. Along the way, tastings and encounters highlight the close relationship between design and food, and how acts of hosting shape the ways we gather in the city.

  • 14:00: Intro by Spacon @ CAFx (Kødbyen)
  • Hart Bageri (Kødbyen)
  • Folk Kombucha
  • Hija de Sanchez
  • POPL
  • NOMA Projects
  • 16:30: Tour ends @ Hart Bageri (Refshaleøen)

Please bring your bike for the tour.

DA:

Spacon inviterer dig med på en rejse gennem Københavns mad- og designkultur, hvor vi besøger steder, vi har designet rundt om i byen: fra bagerier og taquerias til restauranter og kulturhuse. Undervejs vil smagsprøver og møder fremhæve den tætte forbindelse mellem design og mad, og hvordan måden, vi er værter på, former de måder, vi samles i byen.

14:00: Intro ved Spacon @ CAFx (Kødbyen)

Hart Bageri (Kødbyen)

Folk Kombucha

Hija de Sanchez

POPL

NOMA Projects

16:30: Turen slutter @ Hart Bageri (Refshaleøen)

Medbring venligst din cykel til turen.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Address
    Nikolaj Plads 10
  • Partner
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Year
    2025

Meet the architect behind the extensive renovation of Nikolaj Kunsthal’s foyer, shop, and café, completed in 2022. In an informal Q&A format, Morten Emil Engel – who has previously worked with firms such as COBE – will share insights into the process of transforming the historic church interior into a modern experience space, while maintaining respect for its historical context. The renovation has been praised by international architecture and design media including Dezeen, Design Anthology UK, Yellowtrace, and The Spaces. Free admission and happy hour at the bar.

DAN:

Mød arkitekten bag den omfattende renovering af Nikolaj Kunsthals foyer, butik og café, som blev færdiggjort i 2022. I et uformelt Q&A-format vil Morten Emil Engel – der tidligere har arbejdet hos firmaer som COBE – dele indsigter om processen med at forvandle den historiske kirkeinteriør til et moderne oplevelsesrum, samtidig med at der tages respektfuld hensyn til dets historiske kontekst. Renoveringen er blevet rost af internationale arkitektur- og designmedier såsom Dezeen, Design Anthology UK, Yellowtrace og The Spaces. Fri entré og happy hour i baren.

Guided tour (EN) at Museum of Copenhagen about its Renaissance-inspired building. Sat Sep 20, 15:00–16:00; Sun 15:00–16:00.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Museum of Copenhagen
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    Københavns Museum
  • Year
    2025

Discover the intriguing history of the building now home to the Museum of Copenhagen. Constructed in 1893–94 as a guardianship office, it was where the state managed the finances of legally incapacitated women and children.
Architect H.J. Holm drew strong inspiration from the Italian Renaissance but also incorporated modern styles of the late 19th century, including the popular Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). The building reflects Holm’s high standards for quality materials and craftsmanship, alongside his practical approach to its functions. Inside, you’ll find colorful decorated ceilings, stained glass windows, ornate railings, and a central heating system.

Kate Orff picks Kira Akerman’s ‘Hollow Tree,’ a 74‑min film about climate crisis and identity in Louisiana.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Gloria Biograf
  • Address
    Rådhuspladsen 59, 1550 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Copenhagen Architecture Biennial has invited Kate Orff, landscape architect, founder of SCAPE, Director of the Urban Design Program at Columbia University and OBEL Award winner of 2023, to select a favourite film for this edition of the biennial. Orff will be in conversation with the film’s director, Kira Akerman.

Hollow Tree follows three teenagers coming of age in their sinking homeland of Louisiana, USA. For the first time, they notice the Mississippi River's engineering, stumps of cypress trees, and billowing smokestacks.

Their different perspectives — as Indigenous, white, and Angolan young women — shape their story of the climate crisis.

A film by Kira Akerman,

Year: 2022

Length: 74 min.

Language: English, Introduction in English.

DA:

Copenhagen Architecture Biennial har inviteret Kate Orff – landskabsarkitekt, grundlægger af SCAPE, leder af Urban Design-programmet ved Columbia University og modtager af OBEL Award i 2023 – til at udvælge en favoritfilm til denne udgave af biennalen. Orff vil være i samtale med filmens instruktør, Kira Akerman.

Hollow Tree følger tre teenagere, der vokser op i deres synkende hjemstavn Louisiana, USA. For første gang lægger de mærke til Mississippi-flodens ingeniørarbejde, stubbe af cyprestræer og rygende fabriksstakke.

Deres forskellige perspektiver – som indfødt, hvid og angolansk-amerikansk – former deres fortælling om klimakrisen.

En film af Kira Akerman, År: 2022, Varighed: 74 min. Sprog: Engelsk, introduktion på engelsk.

Mon Oncle: Jacques Tati film presented by Jan Gehl. Sep 20, 2025 at Cinemateket. 1958 comedy on modern architecture critique.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Cinemateket
  • Address
    Gothersgade 55, 1123 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Copenhagen Architecture Biennial has invited Jan Gehl, world renowned urban planner and founder of Gehl Architects, to select a favourite film for this edition of the biennial. Gehl will introduce the film.

Watch this classic comedy by Jacques Tati on a rooftop cinema in the center of Copenhagen and introduced by “the human scale”-godfather, Jan Gehl.

Mon Oncle centers on the socially awkward yet lovable character of Monsieur Hulot and his quixotic struggle with postwar France's infatuation with modern architecture, mechanical efficiency and consumerism. The film presents a timeless critique of modernism and its impact on human life. It remains a reminder of the importance of balance, human connection, and the enduring appeal of simpler ways of life in the face of technological and societal change.

A film by Jacques Tati,

year: 1958, length: 117 min., language: french, subs: English

DA:

Copenhagen Architecture Biennial har inviteret Jan Gehl – verdenskendt byplanlægger og grundlægger af Gehl Architects – til at udvælge en favoritfilm til denne udgave af biennalen. Gehl vil introducere filmen.

Se denne klassiske komedie af Jacques Tati i en tagbiograf midt i København, introduceret af faderen til begrebet “the human scale”, Jan Gehl.

Mon Oncle kredser om den socialt akavede, men elskværdige Monsieur Hulot og hans skæve kamp mod efterkrigstidens franske fascination af moderne arkitektur, mekanisk effektivitet og forbrugskultur. Filmen er en tidløs kritik af modernismen og dens påvirkning af menneskelivet. Den minder os stadig om vigtigheden af balance, menneskelige relationer og den vedvarende tiltrækning ved et enklere liv i mødet med teknologiske og samfundsmæssige forandringer.

En film af Jacques Tati. År: 1958, varighed: 117 min., sprog: fransk, undertekster: engelsk.

Film screening: Speak To The Earth - architecture & natural materials. Sep 20, 2025 at CAFx, Copenhagen. Q&A with Lola Ben-Alon from Columbia.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    CAFx
  • Address
    Halmtorvet 27
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In a basement workshop in New York City, a team of researchers is seeking to transform the future of architecture. The Natural Materials Lab conducts experiments merging the study of ancient earthen & fibre building systems, with 21st century techniques in engineering, analysis & production. From a mixture of play and scientific rigor, new methods of construction are being born, which aim to operate in harmony with the limitations and patterns of Earth itself.Speak to the Earth is a cinematic window into the daily practices and philosophies shaping materials development in architecture. Rooted in slow experimentation and collective inquiry, the film captures the embodied labor of working with earthen and agricultural waste materials. Reflecting ongoing research at Columbia University's Natural Materials Lab, the film portrays experiments that are at once technical, sensory, and ancestral.

A film by Benjamin Abrams, who is a documentary filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY.

Year: 2025

The film will be introduced and followed by a Q&A with Lola Ben-Alon, Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP.

DA:

I et kælderværksted i New York City arbejder et forskerteam på at transformere fremtidens arkitektur. The Natural Materials Lab udfører eksperimenter, der forener studiet af gamle jord- og fiberbyggesystemer med det 21. århundredes teknikker inden for ingeniørkunst, analyse og produktion. Ud af en blanding af leg og videnskabelig stringens opstår nye byggemetoder, som har til formål at fungere i harmoni med Jordens egne begrænsninger og mønstre.

Speak to the Earth er et filmisk vindue ind til de daglige praksisser og filosofier, der former udviklingen af materialer i arkitekturen. Med rødder i langsomme eksperimenter og kollektive undersøgelser indfanger filmen det kropslige arbejde med jord- og landbrugsaffaldsmaterialer. Filmen afspejler igangværende forskning på Columbia University’s Natural Materials Lab og portrætterer eksperimenter, der på én gang er tekniske, sanselige og forbundet til forfædres viden.

En film af Benjamin Abrams, dokumentarfilmskaber baseret i Brooklyn, NY.

År: 2025

Filmen introduceres og efterfølges af en Q&A med Lola Ben-Alon, lektor ved Columbia GSAPP.

  • Duration
    September 20, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Gloria Biograf
  • Address
    Rådhuspladsen 59, 1550 København
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Join us when the acclaimed architecture film couple Bêka & Lemoine introduce their latest film, premiering in Denmark for the first time.

'Softly Brutal' is a film shot in Khlong Toei, Bangkok's largest slum, an immense informal settlement housing over 100,000 people right in the heart of the Asian exponentially growing megacity.

Deconstructing the clichés associated with slums, such as violence, gangs and illicit trafficking, the film is a deep dive into Khlong Toei's slow daily rhythms through close observation of the living conditions, micro economies and neighbourhood relationships binding this community together. The film unfolds as a journey through countless micro-situations and life stories captured spontaneously on the narrow streets of Khlong Toei's district. It dives into the family and domestic equilibriums of this urban bubble, depicting in minute details this street maze where the boundary between private and public dissolves.

A film by Louise Lemoine & Ila Bêka

  • Year: 2024
  • Length: 92 min.
  • Language: Thai, subs: English.
  • Introduction in English.

Screened in collaboration with l’Institut Français and the Italian Cultural Institute

DA:

Kom med, når det anerkendte arkitekturfilm-par Bêka & Lemoine introducerer deres nyeste film, som har danmarkspremiere ved denne visning.

Softly Brutal er optaget i Khlong Toei, Bangkoks største slum – en enorm, uformel bebyggelse med over 100.000 indbyggere midt i hjertet af den eksplosivt voksende asiatiske megaby.

Filmen nedbryder de gængse klichéer forbundet med slumområder – såsom vold, bander og ulovlig handel – og dykker i stedet ned i Khlong Toei’s langsomme hverdagstempo gennem nænsom observation af levevilkår, mikroøkonomier og naboskaber, som binder dette samfund sammen. Filmen udfolder sig som en rejse gennem utallige mikrosituationer og livsfortællinger, spontant fanget i de smalle gader i Khlong Toei-distriktet. Den udforsker de familiære og hjemlige balancer i denne urbane boble og skildrer i fine detaljer denne gadelabyrint, hvor grænsen mellem det private og det offentlige opløses.

En film af Louise Lemoine & Ila Bêka,

  • År: 2024
  • Varighed: 92 min.
  • Sprog: Thai, undertekster: engelsk
  • Introduktion på engelsk.

Visningen sker i samarbejde med l’Institut Français og Det Italienske Kulturinstitut.

Breathing Peace: Sunrise to sunset performance. Sep 21, 2025 at Rådhuspladsen, Copenhagen. Sophie Dupont collective breathing ritual.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Rådhuspladsen
  • Address
    Rådhuspladsen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In a world shaken by war, division, and unrest, we invite you to return to the most essential, the most human: the breath.

Breathing Peace is a durational performance work by Sophie Dupont, marking International Peace Day. From sunrise to sunset, the space of Rådhuspladsen becomes a collective lung. A living, breathing sculpture made of bodies in presence. Together, we inhale and exhale peace — for ourselves, for each other, and for the world.

Participants are invited to walk slowly together in a circle, breathing in rhythm. One by one, each person steps into the center and draws a line from their body outward — creating a full sun shape throughout the day. By sunset, this drawing becomes a quiet, visual record — a collective mark of care, presence, and peaceful activism.


DA:

I en verden rystet af krig, splittelse og uro, inviterer vi dig til at vende tilbage til det mest essentielle, det mest menneskelige: åndedrættet.

Breathing Peace er et performanceværk af kunstneren Sophie Dupont, skabt i anledning af Den Internationale Fredsdag. Fra solopgang til solnedgang bliver Rådhuspladsen et kollektivt lunge. En levende, åndende skulptur af kroppe i tilstedeværelse. Sammen indånder og udånder vi fred — for os selv, for hinanden og for verden.
Deltagerne inviteres til langsomt at gå sammen i en cirkel, mens de ånder i takt. Én efter én træder hver person ind i midten og tegner en linje fra sin krop og udad — og skaber derved en fuld solform i løbet af dagen. Ved solnedgang står tegningen tilbage som et stille, visuelt vidnesbyrd — et fælles aftryk af omsorg, nærvær og fredelig aktivisme.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    DR Concert Hall
  • Address
    Ørestads Blvd. 13, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Design with acoustics in mind

Step inside DR Concert Hall and experience the stunning architecture, where design and function come together in perfect harmony. Designed by the french architect Jean Nouvel.

The tour includes a visit to the Concert Hall, a magnificent space where warm wooden panels surround the room, creating both an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Designed with acoustics in mind, the hall offers a rich, natural resonance that elevates the music to new heights and envelops the audience in a complete sound experience. Here, architecture and sonic artistry meet in a harmonious balance, making every concert truly special.

The tour also includes a visit to Studio 2, an impressive and versatile space where the characteristic wooden panels not only create a warm and inviting atmosphere but also serve as essential acoustic elements. Musicians from various genres come here to create and record music in a room that inspires creativity while ensuring crystal-clear sound. The studio’s flexible design accommodates everything from large orchestras to intimate live performances, with every corner thoughtfully crafted to bring music to life in the most authentic way.

Additionally, you'll get to see Studio 3, a smaller and more intimate space, well-suited for small ensembles and soloists.

We’ll end with a brief look inside the sound control rooms, where the technical side of production ensures the audio is always top-notch.

Whether you love music, architecture, or are simply curious, this tour offers a unique insight into the magical world of sound.

Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Langelinieskuret
  • Address
    Langelinie Alle 16, 2100 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

A historical landmark building in transformation

Langelinieskuret is a visionary construction erected as part of the Free Port in 1894. The design is democratic architecture at its finest because it combines industrial demands with recreational needs.
Today, the free port is closed and the entire area is developing into an attractive part of the Danish Capital, near the sea yet close to the bustling medieval city centre.

In an effort to reawaken the long historical appeal of Langelinie, Langelinieskuret is undergoing an exciting transformation.
On the promenade, a new installation of gardens, long tables and pétanque lanes invites locals and tourists to rediscover their city, to come together and to take pleasure in the scenic cityscape.

In the old warehouse new shops, bars and restaurants are blooming: 2-star Michelin restaurant KOAN, award winning burgers from Hungry Dane, vibrant art at Albert Contemporary, and the fashionable wine bar, Skurets Vinbar, designed by David Thulstrup, known for his award winning designs for NOMA.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Løvenborg
  • Address
    Vesterbrogade 34, 1620 Copenhagen V
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Visit Dreyers Fond’s headquarters, Løvenborg, designed by renowned architect Anton Rosen in 1906. This historic Art Nouveau building features one of Denmark’s earliest curtain-wall facades, with prefabricated sandstone elements suspended from the structure behind. Listed in 1985 for its unique architectural value, Løvenborg was beautifully restored and awarded the Europa Nostra Prize in 2004.

During Open House, you can explore parts of this exceptional building and learn about its transformation into a modern office and guest residence.

Royal Cast Collection: 2000 plaster sculptures tour. Sep 21, 2025 at Vestindisk Pakhus, Copenhagen. 7 floors of Western art history.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Vestindisk Pakhus
  • Address
    Toldbodgade 40, 1253 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

A Journey Through Sculptural History

Hidden away in the atmospheric West India Warehouse on Copenhagen’s harbourfront lies one of the city’s most remarkable treasures: the Royal Cast Collection. The collection houses approximately 2,000 plaster casts of the most famous sculptures in Western art history, primarily from antiquity but also from the Renaissance, with Michelangelo as the highlight.

First exhibited in 1895, the collection has had a colourful history, from years in storage to its grand reopening in 1984 in its current home. Today, its seven floors combine raw timber beams, thick walls, Rococo flourishes, and Neoclassical elegance.

During Open House, visitors can explore all seven floors of the warehouse — a striking blend of raw timber beams, thick walls, Rococo and Neoclassical details — and step into the ’King’s Room’, the Danish West India Company’s preserved boardroom from 1781.

Guided tours with curator Henrik Holm and “slow looking” sessions with art educator Emma Blomberg invite you to pause, take in the details, and immerse yourself in a single work of art.

Programme

Guided tour with curator Henrik Holm

On Saturday and Sunday at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, and 16:00 there will be a guided tour with curator Henrik Holm.

Slow down in an authentic past. Raw wooden structures, thick walls, and Rococo blend with Neoclassicism. We stroll through the West India Warehouse’s seven floors, including the “King’s Room,” the uniquely preserved boardroom of the Danish West India Company from 1781.

Participation is free and requires no registration. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and is in Danish.

Slow Looking with Emma Blomberg

On Sunday at 11:45, 13:45, and 15:45 you can join art educator Emma Blomberg in Slow looking in front of a selected sculpture from the collection.

Join us as we slow down together and immerse ourselves in a single work for 30 minutes. Participation is free and requires no registration. All three sessions are in Danish.

Birkegade rooftop garden tour - secret green oasis. Sep 21, 2025 at Birkegade 4, Copenhagen. 7th floor garden with city views.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Birkegade Rooftop
  • Address
    Birkegade 4, 2200 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

A leaky roof became a playful green retreat atop an old Nørrebro building — and now you’re invited in, as Open House opens the gates to the rooftop garden on Birkegade. Come and experience a unique, recreational green space in one of the densest areas of Copenhagen.

It’s not something you’d spot — unless you knew it was there. At least not from the street below on Birkegade, in the heart of trendy Nørrebro. But high above, a green oasis unfolds with views over the city’s rooftops. The rooftop garden is usually reserved for residents of the building, but now you have the chance to explore one of Nørrebro’s hidden — and most unique — urban spaces. A secret garden.

From leaky roof to green rooftop garden

It all started with a leaky roof. The residents of the housing cooperative dreamed of having an outdoor space — something their backyard couldn’t offer. They wanted better conditions for urban living and more child-friendly homes. With help from JDS Architects, a lush rooftop garden was created: an oasis with a grassy hill, a wooden deck with a barbecue and outdoor kitchen, and a vibrant orange activity area with a soft sports surface.

Climb a building

The rooftop terrace sits at the 7th–8th floor level and is only accessible via the two main staircases — so be ready for a bit of a climb, as there’s no elevator. But like with any ascent, the reward awaits at the top. Open House at the Birkegade rooftop is a rare opportunity to see how the city’s 100-year-old buildings can still provide amazing spaces for life, leisure, and community.

Registration is required.

Courtyard of the Future: Tomsgårdsvej SLA design tour. Sep 21, 2025 in Nordvest, Copenhagen. Upcycled materials & rainwater systems.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Tomsgårdsvej Courtyard
  • Address
    Hovmestervej 39, 2200 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

How should tomorrow’s courtyards look? Come and experience the vision of one of Denmark’s most renowned landscape architects. Landscaping studio SLA has created a private courtyard in Copenhagen’s Northwest district to manage the vast amounts of rain from the cloudbursts we will experience more and more often in the future.

Between Tomsgårdsvej, Straussvej and Askøgade in Copenhagen’s Northwest district lies a little piece of the future. One thing none of us can avoid is climate change, which is why the City of Copenhagen has launched the demonstration project, “Courtyards of the Future”, to try to figure out how courtyards can be used to mitigate the effects of cloudbursts and climate change.

Bricks from Rigshospitalet Become an Orangery

In the Courtyard of the Future in Nordvest, renowned architectural studio SLA has created a wild, green oasis promoting biodiversity with a wide range of grasses, plants and trees. SLA is also behind the City Dune outside the SEB bank headquarters and the landscaping on Sønder Boulevard. In this Courtyard of the Future, the focus is on minimizing carbon emissions. For instance, the Orangery was built using upcycled windows and bricks from Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet. And the courtyard’s two levels are separated by a rammed-earth wall, minimizing the use of concrete. The winding earthen wall also creates little niches for hanging out, small gardens and rainwater management.

Avoiding Flooded Basements

The rainwater from the surrounding building’ roofs is collected in pipes under the sidewalk and led through the building and out into the courtyard. There it is used to wash bikes and water gardens, as well as becoming part of the courtyard’s rustic stepped waterfall, hidden among the vegetation and comprising deep hollows and large changes in terrain level. The trickling and burbling water creates a new natural soundscape in an area otherwise plagued by traffic noise.

During Open House, you can experience this private courtyard and find inspiration for your own landscaping. Make sure to visit the Klimakarréen and Nattergalevej climate-resilient courtyards as well.

Courtyard of the Future: Askøgade climate adaptation tour. Sep 21, 2025 in Østerbro, Copenhagen. Rainwater management for 5 city buses.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Courtyard at Askøgade
  • Address
    Entrance of the corner of Askøgade and Vognmandsmarken, 2100 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In outer Østerbro, you’ll find a courtyard designed with an eye to the future. The Courtyard of the Future on Askøgade has become a green oasis with the implementation of climate adaptation initiatives. Take a look inside during Open House and learn about a climate project that has been named Best in Denmark. The Courtyard of the Future on Askøgade is part of Klimakvarteret in Østerbro, Copenhagen’s first climate-resilient neighborhood.

Here, the City of Copenhagen and local residents have joined forces to create a climate-friendly urban oasis that can handle vast amounts of rainwater and mitigate the increased flooding risks of tomorrow.

Handles Enough Water to Fill Five City Buses

Built in 2020, the Courtyard of the Future on Askeøgade comprises a green center that is both the heart and brain of the climate project.

An elevated wooden walkway winds through the green courtyard, creating a series of recreational areas for residents. Under the walkway, a green “basin” spans the length of the courtyard with a trench down the middle. Rainwater from cloudbursts is led from the rain gutters to the trench. The aim is to relieve pressure on the sewer system and reduce the risk of basements and buildings flooding. For ordinary rain showers, the runoff is collected in a rainwater bed where it can be used for watering plants.

The rainwater architecture in this courtyard can handle enough water to fill five city buses. And that’s why it has been named one of Denmark’s best climate-adaptation projects by the philanthropic association Realdania.

Experience More Courtyards

This courtyard is part of the City of Copenhagen’s ongoing efforts to revitalize residential courtyards, bringing more nature to the city and creating more recreational areas. The city has renovated 550 courtyards over the past 50 years.

During Open House, you can experience a number of Copenhagen’s courtyards, both older and newer, such as Klimakarréen, Københavnerkarréen and Nattergalevej.

DA

På Ydre Østerbro finder du en gårdhave med blikket rettet mod fremtiden. Fremtidens Gårdhave på Askøgade er blevet en grøn oase gennem en række klimatilpasningstiltag. Kig indenfor under Open House og hør om et klimatilpasningsprojekt, der er kåret som Danmarks bedste. Gårdhaven på Askøgade er en del af Klimakvarteret på Østerbro – Københavns første klimarobuste bydel.

Her har Københavns Kommune og lokale beboere slået sig sammen for at skabe en klimavenlig urban oase, der kan håndtere store mængder regnvand og mindske fremtidens stigende oversvømmelsesrisici.

Kan rumme vand svarende til fem busser

Opført i 2020 består Fremtidens Gårdhave på Askøgade af et grønt centrum, der både er hjertet og hjernen i klimatilpasningsprojektet.

En hævet træpromenade slynger sig gennem den grønne gård og skaber en række rekreative områder for beboerne. Under promenaden strækker et grønt ”bassin” sig langs hele gårdrummet med en grøft i midten. Regnvand fra skybrud ledes fra tagrenderne ned i grøften. Formålet er at aflaste kloaksystemet og reducere risikoen for oversvømmelser i kældre og bygninger. Ved almindelige regnskyl opsamles vandet i et regnbed, hvorfra det kan bruges til at vande planter.

Regnvandsarkitekturen i denne gård kan håndtere en mængde vand svarende til fem bybusser. Derfor er projektet blevet udnævnt til et af Danmarks bedste klimatilpasningsprojekter af den filantropiske forening Realdania.

Oplev flere gårdhaver

Denne gårdhave er en del af Københavns Kommunes løbende indsats for at forny byens gårdrum – med mere natur i byen og flere rekreative områder. Gennem de seneste 50 år har kommunen renoveret 550 gårdhaver.

Under Open House kan du opleve en række af Københavns gårdhaver, både ældre og nyere, såsom Klimakarréen, Københavnerkarréen og Nattergalevej.

Nattergalevej courtyard garden with rainwater management. Sep 21, 2025 in Nordvest, Copenhagen. Smart climate adaptation design.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
  • Venue
    Nattergalevej Courtyard
  • Address
    Nattergalevej 54, 2400 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Experience a newly renovated courtyard garden from in the Fuglekvarteret neighbourhood of Nordvest. Explore this lush garden that invites wild nature into the city while also incorporating smart rainwater solutions to handle the heavy cloudbursts we can expect more of in the future.

On Nattergalevej, you’ll find a great example of how a long, narrow courtyard can be filled with nature – while also integrating a built-in rainwater management system. The courtyard is the result of a collaboration between the City of Copenhagen and HOFOR, and was designed by MASU landscape architects, who also created the enchanting park at the new Hans Christian Andersen museum.

In this property, rainwater from the roof is reused both for the communal laundry and as part of the courtyard’s landscape. While the rainwater tank can hold 40 m³, the courtyard itself can hold about 288 m³!

A stream running through the courtyard

How do you make room for so much water? The courtyard features ditches and rain gardens that function as retention basins, winding like a long, meandering “park strip” through the entire space.

Instead of asphalt, clay brick paving directs water to the right places. The rain gardens are planted with grasses and herbs, and overall, nature has been brought in with 46 newly planted trees, fruit bushes, and perennials.

Secret paths and small bridges

Even the playground is made from natural materials, and the secret paths and wooden bridges over the water are a hit with both children and adults. The courtyard also features varied terrain that creates niches for relaxing. In one part of the courtyard, a large circular bench invites gatherings for festive occasions.

During Open House, you can take a walk through the courtyard – and perhaps be inspired to incorporate water into your own garden design.

DA

Oplev en nyrenoveret gårdhave i Fuglekvarteret i Nordvest. Udforsk den frodige have, som inviterer den vilde natur ind i byen og samtidig integrerer smarte regnvandsløsninger til at håndtere de kraftige skybrud, vi må forvente flere af i fremtiden.

På Nattergalevej finder du et glimrende eksempel på, hvordan en lang, smal gård kan fyldes med natur – samtidig med at den rummer et indbygget system til regnvandshåndtering. Gårdhaven er resultatet af et samarbejde mellem Københavns Kommune og HOFOR og er tegnet af MASU landskabsarkitekter, der også står bag den stemningsfulde park ved det nye H.C. Andersen-museum.

Her genanvendes regnvand fra taget både til det fælles vaskeri og som en del af gårdrummets landskab. Regnvandstanken kan rumme 40 m³, mens selve gården kan tilbageholde omkring 288 m³!

En bæk gennem gården

Hvordan skaber man plads til så meget vand? Gården rummer grøfter og regnhaver, der fungerer som forsinkelsesbassiner og slynger sig som et langt, bugtende “parkanlæg” gennem hele området.

I stedet for asfalt leder belægning med lersten vandet de rigtige steder hen. Regnhaverne er beplantet med græsser og urter, og naturen er generelt trukket ind med 46 nyplantede træer, frugtbuske og stauder.

Hemmelige stier og små broer

Selv legepladsen er opført i naturmaterialer, og de hemmelige stier og træbroer over vandet er populære blandt både børn og voksne. Gårdhaven byder også på varieret terræn, der skaber små kroge til afslapning. Ét sted i gården inviterer en stor, cirkulær bænk til samvær og festlige sammenkomster.

Under Open House kan du gå en tur gennem gården – og måske lade dig inspirere til selv at inddrage vand i din have.

Københavnerkarréen courtyard garden tour. Sep 21, 2025 at Baggesensgade 28-30, Copenhagen. Urban oasis with wild grass areas.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Københavnerkarréen
  • Address
    Baggesensgade 28-30, 2200 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

In the heart of Nørrebro, tucked behind Nørrebrogade and Blågårdsgade, lies the courtyard known as “Københavnerkarréen,” a green oasis for the surrounding residents. During Open House, you can step inside this courtyard, which combines an urban character with wilder areas of tall grass and herbs.

It’s easy to forget just how many beautiful, spacious courtyards are hidden throughout Copenhagen—even in some of the city’s most densely built neighbourhoods. Københavnerkarréen is one of these, offering a quiet refuge once you step through the gateway from the busy Nørrebrogade.

Connection to other courtyards

The courtyard was designed by landscape architect Lone Van Deurs and were renovated by the City of Copenhagen in the late 1980s.

You might wonder why the municipality would fund renovations for private courtyards. The reason is that courtyards contribute to making Copenhagen a desirable place to live—and for many residents, they are the most important access to nature in their daily lives.

A maze of little corners

The central area of the courtyard is open, with an urban feel created by coloured, soft asphalt, trampolines, and small hills. The many recesses in the buildings form cosy little corners, each given a personal touch with tables, chairs, parasols, planter boxes, insect hotels, birdhouses, and pots. The courtyard also features tall trees, shrubs, and impressive climbing plants that cover parts of the façades. There’s room here for both neatly trimmed hedges and wilder sections with tall grass and herbs.

During Open House, you’ll be reminded that behind the city’s hard brick walls lie flowers and fruit trees. Normally, they’re seen only by those who live here—but during Open House, you’re invited inside.

Climate courtyard tour by Henning Larsen Architects. Sep 21, 2025 at Landskronagade 56, Copenhagen. Rainwater reuse & green terraces.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Københavns klimakarré
  • Address
    Landskronagade 56, 2100 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

During Open House, you can experience a fully renovated courtyard by Henning Larsen Architects. Here, it’s not just the courtyard that is climate-friendly – the surrounding buildings are too. An innovative new façade provides both extra space and a boost to the heating efficiency.
Outer Østerbro has become a testing ground for sustainable urban renewal. Here you’ll find, among other things, an exciting new example of how to create a climate-friendly courtyard renovation.

Wooden terraces in the heart of greenery

In the courtyard of the Climate Block, rainwater from roofs and paved surfaces is reused – partly for toilets and laundry facilities in the apartments, and partly as a calming design element in the courtyard. The water flows through the space in a reflecting pool of varying widths. In the event of cloudbursts, the water is directed to an underground tunnel that ensures it eventually flows into the harbour.
The courtyard also features a charming old rear building with direct access to a raised terrace. A green belt of grass and plants winds through the space, surrounding a series of wooden decks where you can sit amidst the lush greenery.

A new façade outside the old

It’s not only the courtyard that has been upgraded. The buildings have been fitted with an extra façade on top of the old one, improving insulation without taking up interior space. In fact, it adds space through a series of narrow balconies. This additional layer also houses various pipes for electricity, rainwater, and new ventilation. The exterior is clad in wood, tiles, and façade panels, with flowers and plants climbing upwards.
Copenhagen’s courtyards cover roughly 6 million square metres – an area equivalent to 12 times the size of Fælledparken! During 
Open House, you can explore some of the city’s remarkable courtyards, normally reserved for those who live there.

DA

Under Open House kan du opleve en fuldt renoveret gårdhave tegnet af Henning Larsen Architects. Her er det ikke kun gårdhaven, der er klimavenlig – det er de omkringliggende bygninger også. En innovativ ny facade giver både ekstra plads og et løft til energieffektiviteten.

Ydre Østerbro er blevet et testområde for bæredygtig byfornyelse. Her finder du blandt andet et spændende nyt eksempel på, hvordan man kan skabe en klimavenlig gårdhaverenovering.

Træterrasser i hjertet af det grønne

I gården til Klimakarréen genanvendes regnvand fra tage og belagte overflader – dels til toiletter og vaskefaciliteter i lejlighederne, dels som et beroligende designelement i gårdrummet. Vandet løber gennem området i et reflekterende bassin med varierende bredde. Ved skybrud ledes vandet til en underjordisk tunnel, som sikrer, at det til sidst strømmer ud i havnen.

Gården rummer også en charmerende gammel bagbygning med direkte adgang til en hævet terrasse. Et grønt bælte af græs og planter slynger sig gennem rummet og omkranser en række trædæk, hvor man kan sidde omgivet af frodig beplantning.

En ny facade uden på den gamle

Det er ikke kun gårdhaven, der er blevet fornyet. Bygningerne har fået en ekstra facade uden på den gamle, hvilket forbedrer isoleringen uden at optage plads indendørs. Faktisk tilføjer den ekstra plads i form af en række smalle altaner. Dette nye lag rummer også forskellige installationer til el, regnvand og ventilation. Yderfacaden er beklædt med træ, tegl og facadeplader, hvor blomster og planter vokser opad.

Københavns gårdhaver dækker samlet set ca. 6 millioner kvadratmeter – et areal svarende til 12 gange Fælledparken! Under Open House kan du udforske nogle af byens bemærkelsesværdige gårdrum, som til daglig kun er forbeholdt beboerne

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Københavns Museum
  • Address
    Stormgade 18
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Free admission to the Museum of Copenhagen

Since 2020, the Museum of Copenhagen has been housed in an architectural gem at Stormgade 18. The building was constructed in 1893–94 as a public trustee’s office – a place where the state managed the estates of women and children who were legally incapacitated.

The architect H.J. Holm was strongly inspired by the Italian Renaissance when he designed the building, which features vividly decorated ceilings, stained-glass windows, intricate railings, and a distinctive attention to quality and detail.

This weekend, the museum opens its doors and offers free admission to all those interested in architecture and history.

Sign up for a guided tour with curator Thomas Roland and explore every corner of this history-filled building. Two different activity sheets invite children – and the young at heart – to go exploring in the beautiful house.

Open House at BLOX Apartment by OMA. Guided visits with views over city and harbour. Sun Sep 21, 10:00–17:00.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
  • Venue
    BLOX
  • Address
    Bryghuspladsen 8, 1473 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Did you know that people actually live in BLOX on Bryghuspladsen square? Now you have the chance to see what it feels like to live at the top of such a distinctive building. Open House invites you to visit one of the 22 apartments in BLOX, designed by the Dutch architects OMA.

BLOX has been called everything from a “must-see” to an “abomination.” The distinctive, angular glass building on the waterfront—situated between the Royal Librarie’s Black Diamond and Langebro—is best known for housing the Danish Architecture Center. With its many stacked boxes, the building has both devoted fans and outspoken critics. Regardless of your opinion, BLOX has brought new life to what was once a rather desolate part of the city.

Visually, the stacked boxes call to mind the many shipping containers that once lined the harbour. And the many shades of green are a reflection of both the harbour waters and Copenhagen’s verdigris spires.

Peaceful—right in the city center

On the 4th and 5th floors of BLOX are 22 apartments ranging from 120 to 200 square meters in size, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and large terraces that offer stunning views of both the city and the harbour. Despite the fact that the entire building sits directly above one of Copenhagen’s busiest roads, the top of BLOX is remarkably peaceful.

In addition to the exhibitions at the Danish Architecture Center, the building also hosts a design shop, a fitness center, the Danish Design Center, and BLOXHUB—a co-working space for startups, established companies, and organisations working in sustainable urban development.

See the city from a new angle

If you visit the apartment during Open House, you'll get a rare chance to peek inside a private home at one of the city's most sought-after addresses. You'll be able to see the city and harbour from a new perspective—a view that only very few are privileged to experience.
All the apartments offer a phenomenal view and excellent natural light through the large windows.

Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Tietgenkollegiet
  • Address
    Rued Langgaards Vej 10-18, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Tietgenkollegiet's iconic, circular architecture is created with community at its core. The building is designed so that people naturally meet in the hallways, communal kitchens or the lovely common rooms, where both everyday life and traditions unfold. Nearly 400 students live here in a structure that supports both privacy and collective life. The kitchens provide a framework for close communities, while the courtyard and the open flow of the building invite activities, conversations and spontaneous socializing. The architecture is not only the setting, but also the life of the dormitory.

Where Architecture Shapes Community

In Copenhagen’s Ørestad district, Tietgenkollegiet stands as a striking example of how architecture can foster both individuality and togetherness. Inspired by traditional Chinese Hakka architecture, the circular building was designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg and completed in 2006 as a modern student residence.

Home to nearly 400 students, the building is organized around a central courtyard and features seven floors with shared kitchens, study rooms, and communal areas that encourage social interaction. The architectural design invites residents to meet naturally—whether in the open hallways, lively kitchens, or quiet nooks for study and reflection.

During Open House, you’ll be guided by a local resident and have the chance to explore how the dormitory’s thoughtful layout supports everyday life, traditions, and spontaneous encounters—making the building not just a place to live, but a community in motion.

There will be a guided tour every hour during the opening hours. No registration is needed.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Hotel Ottilia
  • Address
    Bryggernes Plads 7, 1799 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Once the birthplace of the world-famous Carlsberg beer, now a 4+ star design-led boutique hotel — this is Hotel Ottilia by Brøchner Hotels.

Located in the heart of the Carlsberg City District, the hotel brings new life to two iconic industrial buildings: the former malt chamber and the historic brewery. Original silos, raw concrete, golden discs, and signature round windows are just some of the preserved elements that define the architecture.

Hotel Ottilia stands as a bold example of how heritage and modern design can merge — transforming industrial legacy into an award-winning architectural landmark.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Hotel Danmark
  • Address
    Vester Voldgade 89, 1552 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Where classic Copenhagen meets contemporary design — Hotel Danmark by Brøchner Hotels is a bold architectural fusion in the heart of the city.

Set in two contrasting buildings — a listed 18th-century townhouse and a 1969 structure clad in 4,200 bottle-green tiles — the hotel reflects its surroundings through custom interiors inspired by nearby landmarks like Thorvaldsen’s Museum.

Inside, you'll find bespoke details: leather headboards echoing vintage car seats, green velvet walls, and marble floors. The rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of the city skyline. With its seamless blend of heritage and modernity, Hotel Danmark stands as a distinctive architectural landmark in Copenhagen.

The Chapel Retold: Quiet transformation exhibition. Sep 21, 2025 at Tesdorpfsvej 19, Frederiksberg. Architects & artists summer transformation project.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    The Chapel, Frederiksberg Hospital
  • Address
    Tesdorpfsvej 19, 2000 Frederiksberg (at the corner of Skadestuevej)
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

On the former Frederiksberg Hospital site lies an old chapel and garden, gently transformed over the summer by architects and artists. Through cleaning, repair, and careful reworking of the existing structure, they explored how to give the place new life with minimal additions. The result is a sensory architectural experience that points to new, sustainable ways of transforming with care and low resource use.During Open House 2025, visitors can experience the space and join guided tours (11:00 and 14:00) with the curatorial team, art historian, PhD, Marianne Krogh, and architect Sidsel Gelting Hodge, and participants from the participating teams.

The Group Behind

The three teams that have worked on the transformation of the chapel consist of:

Team 1

Architecture studio Verna, visual artist Julie Falk, and author and cultural geographer Emmy Laura Perez Fjalland. Based on Funen, architects Nanna Kley and Frederik Koefoed from Verna have built solid experience in transformation and the use of recycled materials. This is combined with the artistic and landscape-based insights of Julie Falk and Emmy Laura Perez Fjalland, who work performatively and critically with the histories and materials of place.

Team 2

Architecture studio A Part of Sum, artist and carpenter Line Hvidbjerg, and architect and apprentice bricklayer Lasse Buus. A Part of Sum consists of architects Philip Lütken, Emilie Boye Kjær, and Laurids Bager. The studio, rooted in Copenhagen, has experience from both Danish and international practice. Line Hvidbjerg and Lasse Buus contribute a special focus on craft processes and the transformation of materials. In addition, craft artist Karoline Bach Larsen contributes to the team.

Team 3

Hahn Lavsen, artist Rasmus Søndergaard Johannsen, and textile artist/weaver Marianne Noer. The architectural duo Hahn Lavsen, consisting of architects Caroline Hahn and Ebbe Lavsen, is based in Thy, Western Jutland. Their work is rooted in an ethically founded approach to transformation and draws on a background in restoration. Together with Rasmus Søndergaard Johannsen and Marianne Noer, they will develop new methods for understanding and revitalizing the existing. The team focuses on intangible cultural heritage and the value of reusing everything—without establishing hierarchies among materials.

Wooden Barn Transformation: 1907 timber building tour in Sundholm. Sep 21, 2025 at Sundholmsvej 46, Copenhagen. Student competition proposals exhibition.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Wooden Barn Sundholm
  • Address
    Sundholmsvej 46, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Slow down by taking a trip back in time and experiencing a forgotten and hidden wooden barn and its unique raw wooden structures and at the same time, get a glimt of a possible new future for the barn.

A Unique Timber Construction

In the heart of Sundholm stands a quietly dignified structure – a timber barn built in 1907, one of Copenhagen's few remaining examples of timber construction with a tiled roof. Although it bears the marks of time, it has large cultural significance and spatial potential.

We need to build less and renovate more rather than build new. The buildings that have already been built need to be used for longer and in new ways.
Therefore Municipality of Copenhagen and Områdefornyelsen Sønderbro visions, is to bring this building back to life, and are currently working on, transforming the barn into a welcoming, flexible and inspiring environment that brings people together across generations and backgrounds. A place where everyday life unfolds in many forms: from informal meetings and children's games to communal dining, creative workshops, exhibitions and quiet moments for reflection.

The Future of the Barn

A first step towards The Halldor Gunnløgssons Foundation is holding an architectural competition for architecture students, where the task is to propose a new function and future for the barn as a local public central meeting place.
During the open house, there will be an opportunity to see the three winning proposals from the Halldor Gunnløgssons Foundation's architectural competition 2025. The exhibited projects will provide an insight into this year's assignment "Sundholm Kvarterhus - The Living Barn" and show how students have approached the challenge with different architectural approaches and ideas.

Brønshøj Water Tower: Historic 1928 functionalist architecture tour. Sep 21, 2025 at Brønshøjvej 29, Copenhagen. Cultural venue with unique acoustics.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Brønshøj Water Tower
  • Address
    Brønshøjvej 29, 2700 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

At one of Copenhagen’s highest points stands Brønshøj Water Tower, a 34-meter in-situ cast concrete structure built in 1928. Designed by architect Ib Lunding under city architect Poul Holsøe, it is among the earliest examples of functionalist architecture and today heritage listed. More than a district landmark, the tower has become a meeting place and part of the capital’s cultural infrastructure – a raw concrete frame where sound, light, body, and architecture merge into immersive experiences. Since 2019 it has served as a cultural venue, celebrated for its extraordinary acoustics and unique architectural character.

Courtyard of the Future: Straussvej climate-adaptive green space. Sep 21, 2025 at Straussvej 19, Copenhagen. Rainwater management & sustainable design.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Private courtyard on Straussvej
  • Address
    Straussvej 19, 2450 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Climate-Adaptive Green Spaces

How can we create green urban spaces that are recreational, climate-adapted, and sustainable? This is the question explored by The Courtyards of the Future – a demonstration project initiated by the City of Copenhagen. The courtyard at Straussvej is Denmark’s first courtyard with a biologically filtered rainwater pond, where water cleans itself, shapes the atmosphere, and becomes a resource for play and recreation.

Rainwater as a Resource

Here, rainwater is an active part of city life: everyday rainfall creates atmosphere and recreational value, while cloudbursts are managed by infiltration or temporary storage, easing the pressure on sewers and reducing flooding risks. Visible rainwater management is combined with a lush courtyard featuring a playground, orchard, hill, greenhouse, and water play areas – along with seating where residents and visitors can pause and rest.

Building Sustainably

The project was designed with sustainability in focus. The orangery, sheds, terraces, and benches are built from surplus and recycled materials, including old windows and discarded wood. The “climate edge,” which directs and stores water, is constructed with crushed recycled concrete instead of gravel, and paving stones have been reused from Copenhagen’s streets and squares. In this way, water management becomes not just a technical solution, but a central part of the courtyard’s architecture, aesthetics, and atmosphere.

The Courtyards of the Future are developed through close collaboration between the City of Copenhagen, HOFOR, residents, and the consultant team BOGL, WSP Danmark, Lendager Group, and Junckerhaven. The project has received recognition from Realdania as one of Denmark’s best climate adaptation projects and in 2023 was awarded the Danish Concrete Innovation Prize.

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Klimatilpassede grønne byrum

Hvordan kan vi skabe grønne byrum, der både er rekreative, klimatilpassede og bæredygtige? Det er spørgsmålet, som Fremtidens Gårdhaver udforsker – et demonstrationsprojekt igangsat af Københavns Kommune. Gårdhaven på Straussvej er Danmarks første gårdhave med et biologisk filtreret regnvandsbassin, hvor vandet renser sig selv, skaber stemning og bliver en ressource til leg og rekreation.

Regnvand som ressource

Her er regnvandet en aktiv del af bylivet: Hverdagsregn skaber atmosfære og rekreativ værdi, mens skybrud håndteres gennem nedsivning eller midlertidig opmagasinering, hvilket aflaster kloakkerne og reducerer risikoen for oversvømmelser. Synlig regnvandshåndtering kombineres med en frodig gårdhave med legeplads, frugthave, bakke, drivhus og vandlegeområder – samt siddepladser, hvor beboere og besøgende kan holde pause og nyde omgivelserne.

At bygge bæredygtigt

Projektet er designet med fokus på bæredygtighed. Orangeriet, skurene, terrasserne og bænkene er bygget af overskuds- og genbrugsmaterialer, herunder gamle vinduer og kasseret træ. Den såkaldte ”klimakant”, som leder og opbevarer vand, er konstrueret af knust genbrugsbeton i stedet for grus, og brosten er genbrugt fra Københavns gader og pladser. På den måde bliver vandhåndtering ikke kun en teknisk løsning, men en central del af gårdhavens arkitektur, æstetik og atmosfære.

Fremtidens Gårdhaver er udviklet i tæt samarbejde mellem Københavns Kommune, HOFOR, beboere samt konsulentteamet BOGL, WSP Danmark, Lendager Group og Junckerhaven. Projektet har modtaget anerkendelse fra Realdania som et af Danmarks bedste klimatilpasningsprojekter og blev i 2023 tildelt Dansk Betons Innovationspris.

Bridge Tower at Langebro: Historic 1950s time capsule tour. Sep 21, 2025 at Langebro, Copenhagen. Explore bascule pit & Copenhagen Harbour views.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    The Bridge Tower at Langebro
  • Address
    Langebro, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

The Bridge Tower at Langebro is a fascinating time capsule from the 1950s, with its beautiful green exterior and fully preserved interior. Step inside the bridge tower, learn about the history of Langebro, and enjoy a spectacular view over Copenhagen Harbour as well as the bascule pit beneath the bridge.

Langebro carries 50,000 cars across daily, so you’ve probably crossed the bridge between Copenhagen and Amager yourself. Perhaps you’ve noticed the turquoise bridge tower rising up in the middle of the bridge. During Open House, you now have the chance for a unique look behind the façade.

From industrial harbour to recreational area

Langebro was completed in 1954. The man behind its construction was Kaj Gottlob, who served as both engineer and architect for the bridge. The new Langebro replaced the old wooden bridge from the 1600s, and with it came the ability to open for passing ship traffic in the busy industrial harbour.

When Langebro opens for ships, the bridge leaves at its centre lift, and their rear ends roll down into a bascule pit. This is operated from the bridge tower, which in 1954 was staffed around the clock. Back then, there were 12,000 openings a year; today the number is fewer than 200. This change tells the story of the harbour’s transformation from an industrial port to a recreational space.

Experience the original interior

During Open House, you can step inside the tower, which is normally closed to the public. Here, the interior remains untouched, and visitors can climb right to the top as well as down beneath the roadway to the bascule pit. See the deep chamber where the bridge leaves descend and the original 1954 machinery, still faithfully ensuring the bridge opens.

From the tower, you’ll enjoy a magnificent view over Copenhagen Harbour, with several of the 11 movable bridges in the Inner Harbour in sight.

Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Copenhagen’s Synagogue
  • Address
    Krystalgade 12, 1172 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Discover the history and significance of Copenhagen’s Jewish Synagogue — an architectural and cultural landmark in the heart of Copenhagen.

During Open House you’ll have the opportunity to experience the unique architecture of the Jewish Synagogue on Krystalgade—one of Copenhagen’s most beautiful and distinctive buildings. The synagogue was built in 1833 and designed by architect Gustav Friedrich Hetsch in a neoclassical style, with clear Oriental and Moorish elements that reflect Jewish architectural traditions in Europe. Its characteristic façade and impressive interior hold both historical significance and spiritual meaning. The building remains an active religious gathering place and a central hub of Jewish life in Denmark.

Talk with Rabbi Jair Melchior

From 11:00 to 11:40, there will be a presentation by Rabbi Jair Melchior.
The word “synagogue” means “house of assembly”—a place where the community comes together. Meet our rabbi and gain insights into questions such as: How is the synagogue used today and when? Why does it look the way it does? Where did Copenhagen’s Jews worship before the synagogue opened in 1833? These and many more questions will be addressed during the session.

Please do not bring large bags. A security check is required before entry, and security staff reserve the right to deny access on the day if deemed necessary.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Skabelonloftet
  • Address
    Refshalevej 167F, 1432 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Step inside the vibrant artist collective at Skabelonloftet, where architecture meets contemporary art in an inspiring setting above the old shipyard halls of Refshaleøen.

During Open House, visitors are invited into the studios of visual artists, architects, photographers, and ceramicists. Meet for example Danish visual artist Sara Mathilde Øster, known for her large-scale works and site-specific pieces created with the method: for the place, at the place, about the place.
Explore how artistic practices unfold in dialogue with space, history, and materiality in this unique environment.

Slow Pavilions guided tour: Recycled architecture installations. Sep 21, 2025 at Søren Kierkegaards Plads, Copenhagen. Slaatto Morsbøl & Tom Svilans designs.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Søren Kierkegaards Plads - Inside Out, Downside Up
  • Address
    Søren Kierkegaards Plads
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Slaatto Morsbøl and Tom Svilans x THISS Studio are the winners of the Slow Pavilions open call.

With each their take on an architecturally sophisticated pavilion in recycled and reusable materials, they set out to imagine what a great deceleration of the global system might look, feel, and sound like on a local scale. The architecture of the 21st century will be an architecture of the slow. For it’s really not about whether we slow down, nor if we need to. It’s about how slowness will arrive. In each their way the winners give this years Biennial theme, Slow Down, physical form.

Join us for a guided tour of the pavilions on 21st of September at 11:00 on Søren Kierkegaards Plads. We begin with a guided tour of Inside Out, Downside Up, Slaatto Morsbøl’s pavilion, before we walk to Gl. Strand for the viewing of Barn Again by Tom Svilans x THISS Studio.

Designed and built specifically for the Biennial the pavilions will act as a symbols and gathering places for the first Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025 taking place in 18 September - 19 October.

DA

Slaatto Morsbøl og Tom Svilans x THISS Studio er vinderne af Slow Pavilions open call.

Med hver deres bud på en arkitektonisk sofistikeret pavillon i genbrugte og genanvendelige materialer har de sat sig for at forestille sig, hvordan en stor nedsættelse af det globale systems tempo kunne se ud, føles og lyde på et lokalt plan.

Det 21. århundredes arkitektur vil være en langsomhedens arkitektur. For spørgsmålet er egentlig ikke, om vi sætter tempoet ned, eller om vi har brug for det. Det handler om, hvordan langsomheden vil ankomme. På hver deres måde giver vinderne årets biennaletema, Slow Down, fysisk form.

Kom med på en guidet tur til pavillonerne den 21. september kl. 11:00 på Søren Kierkegaards Plads.

Vi begynder med en rundvisning i Inside Out, Downside Up, Slaatto Morsbøls pavillon, før vi går videre til Gl. Strand for at opleve Barn Again af Tom Svilans x THISS Studio.

Pavillonerne er designet og bygget specifikt til biennalen og vil fungere som symboler og samlingssteder for den første Copenhagen Architecture Biennial 2025, der finder sted fra den 18. september til den 19. oktober.

On Top of the World: Nikolaj Tower panoramic Copenhagen views. Sep 21, 2025 at Nikolaj Plads 10, Copenhagen. Historic tower climb with city skyline views.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Nikolaj Kunsthal
  • Address
    Nikolaj plads 10
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Join us for a trip up the historic Nikolaj Tower and enjoy a panoramic view of Copenhagen from 35 metres above the ground. From here, you’ll have a clear view of many of the city’s architectural landmarks – from the Marble Church, inaugurated in 1894, to Bjarke Ingels' CopenHill, from the 16-kilometre-long Øresund Bridge to Denmark’s first high-rise buildings: the Bellahøj Towers.

Multiple tours will take place on both days, starting at 11:30 AM. Admission is free, but capacity is limited. Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Gloria Biograf
  • Address
    Rådhuspladsen 59, 1550 København
  • Partner
    Gloria Biograf
  • Year
    2025

Dag Johan Haugeruds Oslo-trilogi

Dag Johan Haugeruds Oslo-trilogi er også en kærlighedstrilogi. En sex-trilogi. Og en drømme-trilogi. Men også en arkitektur-trilogi: Karaktererne bevæger sig rundt i det åbne på byens tage og i skyggen i det nybyggede, menneskefjendske Hovinsbyen. Hos Haugerud er arkitekturen konkret, men også en metafor for relationen mellem mennesker. Mulighederne for at tænke seksualitet og køn, kan være ligeså trange, som Hovinsbyens byrum.

De tre film fik premiere hver for sig - hen over et år. Nu kan de opleves samlet. Og selv om hver enkelt film ikke kræver, at du har set de andre, så har instruktøren på raffineret vis lagt små referencer og figurer ind i filmene, så de kommenterer på hinanden. Weekendavisen skrev: ’Nordmanden Dag Johan Haugerud har helt stilfærdigt udviklet sig til en af Skandinaviens bedste filminstruktører. Nu tager han hul på en trilogi, der kan ende med at blive hans hovedværk.’ Og det er det blevet!

Vi viser tre film til 150. Man kan se dem hver for sig til 50 kr stk (NB: Norsk, med danske undertekster)

ENG:

Dag Johan Haugeruds Oslo-trilogy

Dag Johan Haugerud’s Oslo trilogy is also a love trilogy. A sex trilogy. And a dream trilogy. But also an architecture trilogy: The characters move around openly on the city’s rooftops and in the shadows of the newly built, inhospitable Hovinsbyen. For Haugerud, architecture is concrete, but also a metaphor for the relationships between people. The possibilities for thinking about sexuality and gender can be just as confined as the urban spaces of Hovinsbyen.

The three films premiered separately — over the course of a year. Now they can be experienced together. And although each film does not require you to have seen the others, the director has subtly inserted small references and figures into the films so that they comment on each other. Weekendavisen wrote: “The Norwegian Dag Johan Haugerud has quietly developed into one of Scandinavia’s best film directors. Now he is embarking on a trilogy that may end up becoming his magnum opus.” And it has become just that!

(NB: Norwegian, with Danish subtitles)

ACAN Nordic meeting on demolition atlases, public talk and workshop at FB44 Refshaleøen. Sat Sep 21, 11:00–15:00.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    FB44 Refshaleøen
  • Address
    Refshalevej 169, 1432 København
  • Partner
    ACAN (Architects Climate Action Network) Swedenen
  • Year
    2025

Demolition means unnecessary waste of materials, emissions and possibilities, in a time of scarcity and climate emergency. As the nordic chapters of the Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN), we aim to raise awareness of both the extent and effects of demolition.

We invite you to an open meeting between practitioners within the built environment as well as the general public, to build both local resistance and international insight.

The discussion will start from ACANs work with interactive demolition atlases, mapping threatened, already demolished and saved buildings, and peoples stories about them. What is being demolished, and why? Are there differences between our countries and what can we learn from each other? What can we do to create change?

The event will contain a public talk with the ACANs and guests, a creative workshop, and of course coffee. Welcome!

DA:

Nedrivning betyder unødvendigt spild af materialer, udledninger og muligheder i en tid præget af knaphed og klimakrise. Som de nordiske afdelinger af Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) ønsker vi at skabe opmærksomhed omkring både omfanget og konsekvenserne af nedrivning.

Vi inviterer til et åbent møde mellem fagfolk inden for det byggede miljø såvel som den brede offentlighed, for at opbygge både lokal modstand og international indsigt.

Diskussionen tager udgangspunkt i ACANs arbejde med interaktive nedrivningsatlas, der kortlægger truede, allerede nedrevne og reddede bygninger – samt menneskers fortællinger om dem. Hvad bliver revet ned, og hvorfor? Er der forskelle mellem vores lande, og hvad kan vi lære af hinanden? Hvad kan vi gøre for at skabe forandring?

Arrangementet vil bestå af en offentlig samtale med ACAN og gæster, en kreativ workshop – og naturligvis kaffe. Velkommen!

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
  • Venue
    A-House
  • Address
    Islands Brygge 79A, 2300 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Step inside the iconic A-House at Islands Brygge. From the award-winning building, you can enjoy views of the water and experience the New York-inspired rental apartments that exude culture.

From the street, it might be hard to understand why the building is called A-House. But if you look at Copenhagen from above, the connection becomes clear. The shape forms a large and distinct “A” in the southern part of Islands Brygge. And once inside, the high ceilings and large windows allow you to soak in the light and the beautiful view over Copenhagen Harbor.

A-House was designed by architect Thorvald Dreyer and built in 1960, but the building has since been transformed into modern residences. In 2010, A-House was named Best Renovation by the City of Copenhagen and was also nominated for an award as the world’s best renovation at the World Architecture Festival that same year.

From design collective to unique New York-inspired apartments

Over the years, the building has housed workers from the nearby soy cake factory, served as offices for the postal service, and hosted sound studios for Denmark’s national broadcaster. Later, A-House became home to an artist collective, and the building still bears witness to the inspiring days when artists such as Tal R, musician Anders Trentemøller, and designer Henrik Vibskov lived and worked there. Today, A-House has been transformed into 195 rental apartments built in a New York style, located in the heart of Islands Brygge.

Step inside A-House

During Open House, you’ll have the chance to step inside the iconic A-House when the doors open to one of the building’s New York-style apartments. You can also go up and enjoy the city view from the rooftop terrace—one of the largest in Scandinavia.

Registration is required

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Grundtvig’s Church
  • Address
    På Bjerget 14b, 2400 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Experience Grundtvig’s Church as you’ve never seen it before!

During Open House we are opening the doors to both the well-known and hidden areas of this unique building – from the crypt and the church attic all the way up to the tower, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Copenhagen.

Programme

13:30-14:00 – Talk: How the church came to be (in Danish)

Hear the story of the creation of Grundtvig’s Church and learn about the architect behind this monumental building, P.V. Jensen Klint.

14:00–14:30 – Organ concert with cathedral music

Organist Mads Høck will perform on our grand Markussen organ. Let the music fill the space and allow yourself to feel the acoustics and architecture in a completely unique way.

Throughout the day you are welcome to explore the church, the crypt, the attic, and the tower on your own – including the impressive timber structure hidden within.

We look forward to welcoming you to an afternoon filled with architecture, history, and music in what might be the most extraordinary church interior in the world.

Royal Danish Academy of Music: Former Radio House tour. Sep 21, 2025 at Rosenørns Allé, Frederiksberg. Vilhelm Lauritzen architecture.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium
  • Address
    Rosenørns Allé 22, 1970 Frederiksberg C
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Note that the tours are fully booked.

During Open House you are invited to an one-hour tour of The Royal Danish Academy of Music (the former Radio House), designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen.
See the beautiful Concert Hall, the smaller concert halls (former radio studios), the canteen with Folmer Bendtsen's famous painting, the roof terrace and more.

Guided tours at 13:00 and 15:00. Registration is required.



Open Office at TN16: Djernes & Bell, Johansen Skovsted & Office Kim Lenschow shared studio. Sep 21, 2025 at Nyvej 16C, Frederiksberg. Collective architecture practice tour.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    TN16
  • Address
    Nyvej 16C, 1.sal, 1851 Frederiksbereg C
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

The idea for TN16 was grown from a belief in the value of the collective.

TN16 is a hopeful, possibilist network of experienced yet experimental architects working from a collective studio. Stronger together. We believe in knowledge sharing, openness, care & repair.

Through co-evolution & mutualism TN16 aim to restructure traditional practice organisation with the ultimate goal of increased agency in building towards planetary well-being.

Come and visit the studios and meet the partners for informal dialogue & insight into their practices.

BLOX guided tour: OMA-designed Danish Architecture Center. Sep 21, 2025 at Bryghuspladsen, Copenhagen. Robotic parking & harbor views.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    BLOX
  • Address
    Bryghuspladsen 10, 1473 Copenhagen
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Join a guided tour of BLOX, home to the Danish Architecture Center, and discover one of Copenhagen’s most striking landmarks.

Designed by award-winning Dutch architects OMA, led by Ellen van Loon, the building transformed a once-forgotten harborfront into a bold link between city and water. Explore OMA’s visionary design and see how BLOX blends spaces for work, play, fitness, learning, and living.

Experience its advanced robotic parking system, step behind the scenes of DAC’s workspaces, and enjoy current exhibitions—before ending with breathtaking rooftop views over the harbor and skyline.

Registration is required.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Gammel Strand
  • Address
    Gammel Strand 48, 1202 København K
  • Partner
    Gammel Strand
  • Year
    2025

ER KUNSTEN KÆRLIG? Apolonia Sokol og Noah Umur Kanber i en samtale om kunst og kærlighed

I århundreder har kunsten været lullet ind i romantiske forestillinger, men er kunsten overhovedet kærlig? Hvordan vil kunstneren selv beskrive sit ”kald”? Og er der virkelig tale om en kærlighed for livet, når kunstneren vier sig til kunsten? Eller er denne tankegang i virkeligheden både forældet og giver anledning til arbejdspres?

Kom med til en samtale om kunstneriske fællesskaber, tætte venskaber og kærlighed til kunsten, når kunstnerne Apolonia Sokol og Noah Umur Kanber fortæller om egne erfaringer med det grænseløse felt, vi kalder kunst.


ENG:

For centuries, art has been wrapped in romantic notions, but is art truly loving at all?

How would the artist themselves describe their "calling"? And is it really a love for life when the artist dedicates themselves to their art? Or is this way of thinking actually both outdated and a source of work-related pressure?

Join us for a conversation about artistic communities, close friendships, and love for art, as artists Apolonia Sokol and Noah Umur Kanber share their personal experiences with the boundless field we call art.

Explore the Royal Danish Academy of Music in a guided one‑hour tour—see the Concert Hall, Folmer Bendtsen’s painting, roof terrace. Book now!

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    Danish
  • Venue
    Det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium
  • Address
    Rosenørns Allé 22, 1970 Frederiksberg C
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Note that the tours are fully booked.

During Open House you are invited to an one-hour tour of The Royal Danish Academy of Music (the former Radio House), designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen.
See the beautiful Concert Hall, the smaller concert halls (former radio studios), the canteen with Folmer Bendtsen's famous painting, the roof terrace and more.

Guided tours at 13:00 and 15:00. Registration is required.



Hypogeum Unveiled: Jacob Kirkegaard sound installation opening. Sep 21, 2025 at Solbjerg Plads, Copenhagen. 32-speaker underground sound experience.

  • Duration
    September 21, 2025
  • Language
    English
  • Venue
    Lydbrøndende på Solbjerg Plads
  • Address
    Solbjergvej 23, 2000 Frederiksberg
  • Partner
    CAFx - Copenhagen Architecture Biennial
  • Year
    2025

Join us for the opening of Jacob Kirkegaard’s newest sound installation Hypogeum, presented to the public for the very first time at Lydbrøndene (Sound Wells) on Solbjerg Plads. The work transforms recordings from Copenhagen’s colossal sewer system into a powerful sonic experience, unfolding through 32 loudspeakers buried in the wells of the square.

At the opening, the piece will be played for the first time, and Jacob Kirkegaard will give an opening speech. Cold beers will be served.

A heartfelt thank you to the New Carlsberg Foundation for commissioning and generously lending the work to the Biennial.


DA:

Kom til åbningen af lydkunstner Jacob Kirkegaards nyeste værk Hypogeum, som for allerførste gang præsenteres offentligt ved Lydbrøndene på Solbjerg Plads. Værket bygger på optagelser fra Københavns kolossale kloaksystem og folder sig ud gennem 32 højttalere, nedgravet i pladsens brønde.

Ved ferniseringen spilles værket for første gang, og Jacob Kirkegaard holder åbningstale. Der vil være kolde øl.

En stor tak til Ny Carlsbergfondet for kommissionen og det velvillige udlån af værket til Biennalen.