Old industrial harbours across the world share many modern day ills, loss of trade has led to abandonment and dereliction. Many are now being used as facilitators of city renewal and locations for leisure and much sought after living environments.
The port of Copenhagen is currently in a process of transformation. In addition to a new terminal for cruise ships, the new masterplan for the port will provide housing for more than 40,000 people and office space for 40,000 employees. A centre piece of the redeveloped Nordhaven district will be the re-imagining of an existing 62 m grain silo on the North Harbour. Historically used for storage and processing of grain during the ports heyday, the widely visible landmark will be transformed into a luxurious high-rise residential development by the Danish architectural firm, COBE.
Due to the vagaries of storing grain the architects have inherited a building with different floor plans to each of its 17 storeys. This has been used to create 40 unique apartments with floor to ceiling heights up to 8 m and plans from 80 to 800 m2. Full advantage has been taken of the panoramic views on offer with cantilevered balconies that are interlinked to a new facade system.
The existing fair-faced concrete structure is being clad by a series of modular cantilevered balconies that also help to form the facade system. Galvanized steel forms the main support structure for the balconies that combines perforated sheet to finish the structure. The Silo will be completed by end of spring 2017.
