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CULTURAL HUB AT REFSHALEØEN

Our proposal for a new Cultural Hub/Viking Ship Museum on Refshaleøen, Copenhagen, seeks to establish a dynamic dialogue between Denmark’s deep-rooted architectural traditions and the demands of a rapidly changing global society. Danish architecture has historically been defined by a fundamental simplicity and clarity, adapting foreign impulses to local conditions, climate, and craft traditions. This lineage, evident from the simple village churches to the structures of the traditional Danish farm, underpins a strong sense of place and material honesty.

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The project is situated within the post-industrial landscape of Refshaleøen, an area of significant industrial heritage (TICCIH: "the remains of industrial culture which are of historical, technological, social, architectural or scientific value"). We believe that industrial preservation is not merely a celebration of the past, but an active component in designing the future. Rapid development in post-industrial zones often results in static, homogenous architecture that erases both physical traces and collective memory. To counteract this, our design aims to safeguard the area's existing identity and foster community renewal by protecting its unique memory.

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The core concept is to maintain both the material and intangible essence of the industrial past while creating a dynamic structure for the future. The design operates across multiple temporal layers to ensure resilience and adaptability:

1. Iteration of Existing Form: Creating a contemporary iteration of one of the existing industrial buildings. This approach embeds the "soul of the future" within the site’s historical memory, preserving the distinct character of the place.

2. Inner Temporary Structure: An inner, flexible structure tailored to the immediate operational needs of the new Viking Ship Museum.

3. Long-Term Adaptive Shell: An external structure engineered to adapt to future, unforeseen cultural and societal requirements, ensuring the building remains a vital, dynamic space for decades to come.

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This Cultural Hub is envisioned as a Viking Ship Museum that utilizes the narratives of the past to better navigate the future. By connecting people, place, and history, the proposal delivers a solution that both preserves a piece of national cultural heritage and creates a sustainable, adaptive anchor for Refshaleøen's ongoing development.

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_{Typology: Architecture
Client: Public
Program: Culture centre and museum
Location: Refshaleøen
Year: 2020
Status: Conceptual Proposal}