Expansion of the Bernadotte School
Hellerup
2007 - 2009

Addition with a sense of the spirit of the old school

A small project with large impact

In the 60+ year lifetime of the Bernadotte School in Hellerup, the private school north of Copenhagen has had a chronical lack of space. The school has acquired neighboring buildings and remodeled buildings over time – yet the demand for space has changed and increased as well over decades.

That is why the Bernadotte School approached Vandkunsten with the task of designing an addition to the main building. The project may be small in square meters but large in complexity.

The addition was finished in 2009 and the modest amount of square meters are fully taken advantage of.

We designed the addition as an independent and contemporary building – it fits in with the other eclectic collection of school buildings.

The solution to the expansion of the Bernadotte School does not change the fact that the school has limited outdoor areas. Yet, the design incorporates the roofs for two new outdoor spaces.

The green addition

The façade of the building is wired up as part of the landscaping and building design. Today Wisteria, Black Leaf Ivy, and Virginia Creeper filter daylight entering the building.