Following the completion of the Gammel Hellerup High School multi-purpose hall designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group in 2013, a new 1400 m2 building for cultural activities has been inaugurated by the school’s art and sports enthusiasts.
The new two-level addition to Gammel Hellerup High School just north of Copenhagen provides existing students with generous spaces for social and creative learning, while increasing the capacity of the school in response to its growing popularity.
Located between the school’s multi-purpose hall and adjacent football fields, the new arts building connects the sports areas with the gymnasium’s existing educational facilities in one continuous flow.
By placing parts of the new building beneath the football fields, the students are able to walk through the sunken sports hall at the center of the school´s courtyard, to the classrooms, cafeteria, and out to the main entrance at street level.
“My high-school, formerly introverted and dispersed, has become open and integrated through two focused interventions. Even though each phase is autonomous and complete – their introduction in to the mix has completely reconfigured the sum of the parts. Like a catalyst or an enzyme – once inserted – all the surrounding substance transforms into something completely new.
”Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG. The roof of the new arts building, extend the school’s existing football fields into a green carpet for informal activity, serving as informal seating overlooking sports events. Construction materials and finishes familiar from the multi-purpose hall are integrated in reverse.
Where the sports hall is made of concrete with wooden finishes above and below ground, the classrooms are the opposite: wooden walls span the length of the building, complimented by concrete ceilings and floors. This continuity and repetition of materials creates a coherent visual identity for the school.
Below, Danish filmmaker Kaspar Astrup Schroder has captured free-runner Bjarke Hellden’s unstoppable urban acrobatics— climbing, running and swinging through the school in one continuous motion. Music by Efterklang—courtesy of Sony/ATV, EMI Music Publishing. Source by BIG.
Location: Hellerup, DK
Architect: BIG- Bjarke Ingels Group
Collaborators: EKJ, CG Jensen, Jens Lindhe, Midconsult I Herning, Bent Nygaard Sørensen, Grontmij
Partners in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Finn Nørkjær
Project Leaders: Multi-Use Hall & Gymnasium: Ole Schrøder, Ole Elkjær-Larsen, Frederik Lyng
Project Team Multi-Use Hall & Gymnasium: Ana Merino, Anders Hjortnæs, Christian Alvarez, Dennis Rasmussen, Gül Ertekin, Henrick Poulsen, Hjalti Gestsson, Jan Magasanik, Jakob Lange, Jacob Thomsen, Jeppe Ecklon, Ji-young Yoon, Michael Schønemann, Narisara Schröder, Riccardo Mariano, Rune Hansen, Snorre Nash, Thomas Juul-Jensen, Vincent He, Xu Li
Project Manager: Master Plan & Education Building: Ole Elkjær-Larsen
Project Leader: Master Plan & Education Building: Tobias Hjortdal
Project Team Master Plan & Education Building: Agnete Jukneviciute, Ambra Chiesa, Brigitta Gulyás, Dennis Rasmussen, Enea Michelesio, Greta Krenciute, Høgni Laksáfoss, Isabella Eriksson, Jan Magasanik, Mikkel Marcker Stubgaard, Jeppe Ecklon, Kamilla Heskje, Michael Schønemann, Narisara Schröder, Thomas Juul-Jensen
Project Leader: Landscape: Ole Elkjær-Larsen
Project Team Landscape: Brigitta Gulyás, Enea Michelesio, Mikkel Marcker Stubgaard, Narisara Schröder, Tobias Hjortdal
Area: 2500 m2
Client: Gammel Hellerup High School
Year: 2015
Photographs: Jens Lindhe, Rasmus Hjortshoj, Iwan Baan, Courtesy of BIG
