Jan Albrechtsen’s career began as a nearly newly graduated architect at Vandkunsten in 1982. In 2000, he became part of the partner group, and since 2020 he has also held the title of director. Pernille Schyum Poulsen started as a student at the studio in 1990 and was employed after graduating from architecture school in 1993. She became a partner in 2008. The numbers testify to two careers dedicated not only to the same workplace but also to a shared vision of bringing more community, housing quality, and a human approach to architecture.

’We have both dedicated almost our entire working lives to Vandkunsten – perhaps because we could not see ourselves anywhere else… In any case, we have been driven by a strong professional commitment, and it has been a lifelong commitment to the community and the, we allow ourselves to say, special spirit that prevails at Vandkunsten – despite changing times, say Jan and Pernille,’ say Jan Albrechtsen and Pernille Schyum Poulsen.

Jan and Pernille have had a strong project partnership for decades. This has led to countless first prizes, especially in large urban development competitions. They have particularly focused on community in housing and urban development projects such as Sømærke in Teglværkshaven and Havnevigen at Islands Brygge, and on developing urban and housing qualities in urban development projects in Køge Kyst, Aalborg Øst, Holstebro – Åen tilbage til byen in Horsens, and many more – most recently in Odense Harbor.

In 2014, Jan and Pernille jointly received the Eckersberg Medal for their work in the field between building and planning, using the master plan as a tool. They were also part of the partner group that, among other awards, received Nykredit’s newly established Sustainability Prize in 2015 and the prestigious Alvar Aalto Medal in 2009.

They have now chosen to hand over their areas of responsibility to the next generation of partners at the same time.

’We carried out a generational change in 2020, and we believe the ‘new’ partners should have the space to lead the studio on their own terms – and we have great confidence that they can maintain the ‘special spirit’ that characterizes Vandkunsten and thereby continue to develop the studio’s DNA. Completely leaving the profession is probably impossible – so we think we will still be engaged with the studio and the profession and be allowed to continue contributing our experience. At the same time, we look forward to a new chapter without management responsibilities and with more time to design again, and to being able to immerse ourselves in small personal projects and many other things – hopefully for many years to come’, say Jan Albrechtsen and Pernille Schyum Poulsen.

In 2020, Vandkunsten expanded its partner group with the long-standing employees, architects MAA Elena Astrid Rojas, Emma Hansson, Nel Jan Schipull, Kim Bjørn Dalgaard, Morten Dam Feddersen, and Rikke Møller Andersen. As of January 1, the architectural firm Vandkunsten is thus equally owned by the aforementioned partners as well as landscape architect MAA/MDL and long-standing partner Thomas Nybo Rasmussen. Together, they will continue to run the firm with the aim of maintaining and strengthening Vandkunsten’s broadly based professional profile, which spans from landscape, strategic planning to new construction, renovation, and transformation, with particular expertise in reuse and timber construction.

’Vandkunsten is sustained by rolling partnerships – in seamless transitions, where new hands take over without letting go of the special spirit that has shaped us for half a century.

Today, we are in a strong position – both professionally and in our community. In urban development, there is a historic momentum. We are experiencing a growing demand from municipalities for robust, green, sustainable, and human-centered solutions. Here, Vandkunsten has a clear voice – and a responsibility.

Our collaboration with public housing associations and ambitious developers who are committed to the green transition means that we don’t just talk about change – we build it. We believe in the built examples, and our ambitions still reach far into the future.

We owe Jan and Pernille a huge thank you. Not only for their enormous efforts over decades, but for insisting on a culture where community comes before the individual, and where architecture always aims to give something back to the local area and to lived life,’ says the partner group.

No new partners have been appointed in connection with Jan and Pernille’s departure from the company.

The entire studio wishes Jan and Pernille good luck in their new phase of life and says a big thank you for the many years of collaboration. Naturally, in a practice with rolling partnerships, we continue the collaboration in a new form and are pleased to still have Jan and Pernille closely connected to the studio.

// In the picture, seen from the left: Thomas Nybo Rasmussen, Emma Hansson, Jan Albrechtsen, Pernille Schyum Poulsen, Rikke Møller Andersen, Kim Bjørn Dalgaard, Elena Astrid Rojas, Morten Dam Feddersen and Nel Jan Schipull.

// Contact Elena Astrid Rojas, tlf. +45 26224153