The project's concept emerged from a technical problem inherent in the site.  Cleaning the polluted soil of the site was seen as a necessity, which would require an expense equal to one quarter of the project’s overall budget.  However, we discovered that since the soil was contaminated with only heavy metals, it allowed for stable ground on which to build. We then proposed to cover the entire site with a wooden deck to create a “safe” surface.  Thus, a more architectural and sustainable solution to the site’s problem was achieved rather than the total excavation of the site’s soil.

This concept also allowed for an advantageous solution to the multi-client program.  Two clients had to share the facilities: a sailing club and a youth house.  Their desires were opposite: the youth house wanted outdoor space for children to play, while the sail club needed space to park their boats.  The building is the architectural result of our negotiations with these two contradictory demands: it allows for boat storage underneath and a playground above.  Through a series of rolling, wave-like ramps the interior program is spread across the site creating layers of space.  An observation deck becomes an interior court, and the roof of the interior spaces doubles as walkable, playable, usable space on the exterior.  The presence of cool, hard surfaces on the interior of the facility is meant as a contrast to the wooden exterior, helping to reinforce the dominant attitude of outdoor activity promoted by the youth house and sailing club.

PROJECT: Youth House, Boat Club
TYPE: Invited Competition, 1st Prize
SIZE: 2 000 M2
BUDGET: 1 170 000 EUR
CLIENT: Kvarterløft, Lokale og Anlægsfonden, The Urban Development Fund
COLLABORATORS: PLOT, BIG, Birch & Krogboe
LOCATION: Sundby Harbour, Copenhagen, Denmark
STATUS: Completed 2004