Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

This Curving Prefab Building in Copenhagen Contains 66 Affordable Apartments

This Curving Prefab Building in Copenhagen Contains 66 Affordable Apartments

Danish architecture practice Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has created a prefab, low-income apartment building in Copenhagen that’s refreshingly bright, spacious, and beautiful.

Commissioned by Lejerbo, a Danish non-profit affordable housing association, this 73,195-square-foot building offers 66 new residential apartments that don’t compromise on style or coziness. Despite the strict budget allocated for the project, BIG designed each apartment with warm and welcoming features such as 11.5-foot-high ceilings, expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, and outdoor terraces.

Named the Dortheavej Residence, after its address in the northwest part of Copenhagen, the five-story apartment building winds through an area of car repair shops and industrial buildings constructed from the 1930s to the 1950s.



The 73,195-square-foot prefab building hosts 66 new apartments.



The apartment building has an organic curving form.



Each unit has 11.5-foot-high ceilings, expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, and outdoor terraces.

Lejerbo wanted the new building to create much-needed public space for the neighborhood. They also sought to create open pedestrian walkways while preserving the green yard adjacent to the site.



The apartment takes the form of a singular prefab structure.



The Dortheavej Residence offers affordable and attractive public housing in Copenhagen.



One of the project's goals is to revitalize the community.

BIG responded to Lejerbo’s brief with a singular prefab structure based on a checked pattern.

"Conceived as a porous wall, the building gently curves in the center, creating space for a public plaza towards the street on the south side and an intimate green courtyard towards the north. On the street level, the building opens up to allow the residents and general public to pass seamlessly into the courtyard," says BIG’s founder Bjarke Ingels.



A threshold on the ground level leads from the street to the green interior courtyard.



A staircase leads up to the apartment units.

The cuboid modules are reiterated along the building's curve and stacked up to the height of the surround buildings. The stacked formation creates space between the modules so each apartment can have its own small terrace, fresh air, and sunlight.



An open-plan kitchen and dining area.



A dining area that opens out to a balcony.

The building’s facade is clad with long wooden planks that accentuate the outline of the modules and the structure’s checkered pattern. The apartments range from 646 feet to 1,238 square feet. All have floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook views of the green courtyard and bring in plenty of light.



Steps lead up from the dining area to a bedroom.



Balconies on the south facade.

The north side of the facade looks towards an enclosed green public courtyard that residents of Dortheavej Residence and the neighboring buildings can use for recreation. On the south side, which faces the sun, the apartments have balconies that add depth to the facade.



A model of Dortheavej Residence.



A model of Dortheavej Residence.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
×