Architecture, Mapping

Copenhagen, Denmark 
DIS Abroad Professional Studio (Studio 04) 
Critic: Marie-Louise Holst
2016, 2018

Afloat examines the European Migration Crisis in the context of Nørrebro Copenhagen. It proposes a micro apartment building housing students and asylum seekers attempting to provide a future for new migrants in the city and develop a youth culture that can be supportive of the population, all to build a surrounding community that is more accommodating. Afloat proposes a project that counters the refugee camp model in hopes of integrating newcomers directly in their neighborhoods and introducing dignity to their housing situations.  The project hopes to initiate new ideas about appropriately scaled solutions to this massive global issue specifically tailored for dense cities, that can be more personalized, and help better connect migrants to natives in established European cities.

Snowy Rooftop View

Migration in Copenhagen + Project Site Map 

Norrebro, Copenhagen

The European Migration crisis is an enormous issue for the continent’s cities and towns, as many people from war torn countries seek safety and better living conditions. Issues of racism and xenophobia have plagued Copenhagen like many cities. There has been a difficulty introducing the local population to people who often come from different cultures and speak different languages. The intervention proposes an opportunity to integrate these populations into the existing community in a way that fosters mutual understanding and learning. Norrebro, the location of the site, is the most internationally diverse neighborhood in the city, it is already home to many immigrants from a variety of countries and its many cultural institutions and public spaces reflect this diversity. 

Neighborhood Site Context + Ground Level Plan 

The intervention is made up of two membranes, a metal panel facade that serves as an outer membrane, a screen for interior courtyards and balconies, that filters the light to the interior membrane, and an inner membrane of walls of curtain wall glass that provide views to other parts of the building and the outside. The outer membrane features operable louvers which allow for variation of light quality in the building creating a dynamic facade, displaying the personality and life of the building, and contrasting the monolithic surrounding context of traditional stone apartment buildings and mid-century housing blocks. Courtyards and balconies cut in between the micro apartment units to introduce light into the center of the building and allow residents to see each other in semi-public zones that become interesting moments of interaction across levels. The lobby is fully transparent to the surrounding community and serves as a center for the neighborhood, providing greater public functionality and interaction with the street. Students and asylum seekers utilize the same spaces and work together to build a safe zone.

Micro-Unit, Interior, and Public Space Views 

Initial Design Model Studies 

3D Rendered Model Studies, Sketches and Diagrams