Frederiksberg
2022
A green landmark is unleashed
Our vision
The transformation of Frederiksberg Hospital into a vibrant and diverse urban area presents a unique opportunity to fulfill ambitious visions. The goal is to create a comprehensive approach that balances the area’s history and classical atmosphere with new and exciting ideas, making it future-proof and attractive.
The future vision for the Hospital Quarter builds upon the existing qualities of the site. Where these qualities are not immediately apparent, we uncover, evoke, and enhance them. If necessary, we supplement and repair them.
Our approach to the task is centered around giving everything on the site a chance and examining the potential and resources of the existing place. We focus on identifying, preserving, developing, and enhancing the resources and qualities that already exist in the area, whether they are associated with a building, a garden space, a tree, a pergola, a walking route, or a view… in short, the starting point is to utilize everything available!
The central public park in Frederiksberg serves as a new recreational space
Frederiksberg is home to some of Denmark’s most beautiful and well-maintained parks. However, not all of them are located within the distances that we know city residents need to fully enjoy the benefits of proximity to parks and nature. As an opening move for the development of the Hospitalskvarteret, a connected public city park is proposed, ensuring that this part of Frederiksberg also gains a recreational space.
Grønnegårdsparken
The Grønnegården (Green Courtyard) comprises three distinct spaces: a green arrival area along Ndr. Fasanvej, a tranquil space within the existing hospital garden, and an active space called the “Centrallaboratoriet” (Central Laboratory) with vibrant activities, theater, and a cultural and sports center. Each of these spaces serves the same purpose: to create optimal conditions for developing the area into a significant recreational asset for Frederiksberg.
Car-free neighborhood with optimal connection to the surrounding city.
With the development of the hospital district and the desire for urban life from day one, new flows and connections are created for pedestrians and cyclists. Moving around the neighborhood on foot or by bike becomes meaningful in a car-free area that is connected both internally and to the surrounding city, forming a safe and experiential network for non-motorized traffic. Optimal decentralized solutions for parking, delivery, and waste management further enhance the overall functionality of the area.
A mosaic of green spaces
The hospital district currently has a smaller green area compared to other areas in Frederiksberg, and this proposal aims to change that. By increasing both the quantity and quality of green spaces, several positive effects can be achieved, enhancing the beauty and resilience of the neighborhood.
The strategy seeks to make the hospital district greener, thus ensuring its resilience against climate change, increasing biodiversity, and creating a more experiential, sensory, and diverse urban and residential environment. Residents will have the opportunity to live in close connection to urban nature, with local areas seamlessly integrated into a mosaic of interconnected green spaces. This approach will make the hospital district an attractive place to live, work, and visit, offering a vibrant and appealing environment.
City nature and biodiversity
There is great potential to enhance the natural content in the Hospital Quarter by creating a greater variety of habitats and food resources as a supplement to the valuable old trees. Nature-based initiatives that both retain the existing distinctive green expression and add new qualities, experiences, and atmospheres can benefit not only the area’s wildlife but also future residents and users of the area.
Development and procurement strategy
The vision for Frederiksberg Hospital encompasses clear desires for diversity in the neighborhood and its buildings, including architecture, ownership and housing forms, as well as housing sizes. The realization of this vision and the transformation of Frederiksberg Hospital into a new, attractive, and sustainable urban area deserve and require a strong development and procurement strategy. Therefore, we have prepared specific proposals for a development and procurement strategy for the Hospital Quarter. The development and procurement strategy will form the basis for the work from the approval of the comprehensive plan until the last resident or business has moved into the neighborhood.
Housing concepts and realization
In Frederiksberg, as a consequence of high property prices and a high demand for well-located rental housing, there are good opportunities to achieve a good mix of owner-occupied and privately rented properties, while alternative concepts and ownership forms may be more challenging to realize.
To create real variation in ownership and housing forms, the plan includes a range of housing concepts such as co-housing, compact living, and co-building concepts. These concepts, in different ways, will result in greater diversity within the neighborhood.
Historical depth
Frederiksberg Hospital can be defined as a cultural environment with significant historical depth because the area and its buildings contain traces from multiple time periods and represent different eras’ views on both healthcare and architecture. In Frederiksberg Hospital, historical depth is particularly associated with historical variation and continuity, where changes in societal development are reflected in the architecture and the garden spaces. It is therefore fitting to continue the story and utilize the site’s historical depth and distinctiveness as an asset in the development of the Hospital Quarter. We have outlined a development approach that respects the existing urban environments, public spaces, and buildings’ cultural heritage values while introducing new layers.
Preserve existing values and utilize them
Many buildings need to be preserved and restored to their original grandeur, while others require transformation and the addition of new materials and layers to showcase spolia and patina. New buildings should be composed and assembled using architectural motifs and distinct qualities drawn from the old hospital architecture and the unique Frederiksberg tradition. The existing built environment should serve as a starting point, and new development should be carefully integrated, appearing as an addition and complement to the site’s historical depth.
Project facts
Facts
Project name: Frederiksberg Hospital Areal
Category:Co-Housing, Housing, Planning, Renovation
Client: Frederiksberg Kommune
Location: Frederiksberg
Gross area: 141.000 m²
Date: 2022
Status: Finished
Project
Program: Housing, detail, culture and institutions
Activity: City planning and tranformation
Job type: Parallel competition
Contact: Jan Albrechtsen, jal@vandkunst.dk
Project group: Jan Albrechtsen, Morten Dam Feddersen, Line Tebering, Laura Rahbæk Larsson, Bolette Victoria Bukrinski, Klara Lyshøj, Pernille Schyum Poulsen, Maria Ramild Crammond, Tanya Barui Aghaizadeh
Team
Architect: Vandkunsten, Rønnow Arkitekter and LETH & GORI,
Landscape: SLA
Engineer: EnviDan and Dansk Energi Management
Consultant: Substrata, Cushman & Wakefield RED and Linq Trafik