COBE completes construction of the repurposed silo residence in copenhagen

danish architects COBE and clients klaus kastbjerg and NRE denmark unveil the completed transformation of ‘the silo’ in copenhagen’s newly redeveloped north harbor in copenhagen. the former industrial silo was originally used as a storage container for grain — 50 years later, the 17-storey silo has been converted for new use as a residential apartment building with 38 unique units, ranging from 106 sqm to 401 sqm in size, with public functions such as event and dining facilities on the upper and lower levels.

all images © rasmus hjortshøj – COAST / courtesy of COBE, klaus kastbjerg, and NRE denmark

in order to bring the silo’s industrial concrete façade up to current standards, COBE re-clad the exterior of the existing silo, while the interior has been preserved as raw and untouched as possible. an angular faceted exterior façade made of galvanized steel has been installed to serve as a climate shield. this has allowed the building’s characteristic slender tall shape to be maintained.

‘we wanted to retain the spirit of the silo as much as possible – both in terms of its monolithic exterior and majestic concrete interior, by simply draping it with a new overcoat,’ explains COBE founder dan stubbergaard. ‘the aim was to transform it from the inside out in such a way that its new inhabitants and the surrounding urban life would highlight the structure’s identity and heritage.’

project info:

name: the silo
location: copenhagen, denmark
clients: klaus kastbjerg and NRE denmark
architect: COBE
landscape architect: COBE
engineers: balslev and wessberg
contractor: NRE denmark
programme: residential apartments and public functions size: 10,000 sqm
status: commissioned in 2013, completed in 2017
photography: rasmus hjortshøj – coast

designboom visited COBE’s silo as media partner of CAFx. the festival explores and presents ideas on the relation between the architectural world and human life through a broad public program of talks, films, performances, workshops, seminars and exhibitions and takes place from 3 to 16 may 2018.

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