Courtesy of 3XN

Danish practice 3XN is the architect behind ‘Green Solution House’, a new experimental conference center and hotel, where everything is adapted to the circulation of nature and where guests will get an idea of how it feels to live in a world without waste. Located on the Danish island of Bornholm, it is designed and developed in accordance with the principles of Cradle 2 Cradle®. This means that all materials used in the building are either fully recyclable or biodegradable. Hence, the building design takes on the ambition to eliminate the concept of waste. More images and architects’ description after the break. read more »

New Struan Centre for Autism © Wardell Armstrong

What do we know about designing for individuals with autism? Those concerned with sensory issues are split on some issues.[1] Some say we should limit daylight and exterior views, keep ceiling heights low and spatial volumes small, use restrained details, subdued colors, and reduce acoustical levels. Others advocate for high ceiling heights, large spatial volumes, and high levels of daylight with plenty of views to the outside.  Still others disagree with catering to sensory needs altogether. They point out that individuals with autism struggle generalizing skills, and designing sensory heavens can do more harm than good. Thus they argue for autism classrooms, schools, and homes that mimic all the colors, sounds, lighting, and spatial volumes of “neuro-typical” environments.[2] So who is right?

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Celebrating 25 years of architecture and design Danish Architects 3XN have built a portfolio of work that ‘focuses on the humanity and environment at the center of its architecture.’ Their recent works include the award winning Middelfart Savings Bank Headquarters and the incredibly popular Museum of Liverpool.

Projects by 3XN that have been featured on ArchDaily include:

Bella Sky Hotel
Middelfart Savings Bank Headquarters
Museum of Liverpool
Swedbank’s New International Headquarters
Horsens Stadium
Horten Headquarters
Muziekgebouw
Saxo Bank
Tivoli Concert Hall

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This week, with the help of our readers, our Architecture City Guide is headed to Amsterdam. With its numerous canals, Renaissance architecture, and bike friendly culture, it is hard not to fall in love with Amsterdam. Also, if you love modern or contemporary architecture one could hardly argue against making this city the first stop on a tour of Europe. Our list of 24 buildings hardly does justice to this amazing city, but it will certainly give those less familiar with the city a starting point. We will be adding to our list in the near future, as we didn’t come close to incorporating all our readers’ suggestions. In the meantime add more of your favorites to the comment section below.

The Architecture City Guide: Amsterdam list and corresponding map after the break.

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© Pete Carr

Architects: 3XN
Location: Liverpool, England
Engineer: Buro Happold
Client: National Museums Liverpool
Project area: 13,000 sqm
Photographs: Pete Carr, Philip Handforth, Richard White

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This week, with the help of our readers, our Architecture City Guide is headed to Copenhagen. This is our first stop in Europe, and admittedly the selection was not completely unbiased. While studying at the Danish Building Research Institute a few years ago I couldn’t help but fall in love with Copenhagen’s architecture. The Danish attention to detail is absolutely stunning. Besides the wonderful historic architecture, Copenhagen is filled with contemporary architecture of the highest quality. Remarkably, you rarely find the new clashing with the old. More often than not, the contemporary architecture in Copenhagen actually heightens the experience of the historic buildings and streets. Last week our readers suggested so many great buildings I decided to double the usual number of buildings to 24. This still did not come close to including all the suggestions or even some of my favorites, so we will be looking to expand on this list in the near future. Once again thanks to all our readers for your help. As the list is incomplete please add your favorites in the comment section below.

The Architecture City Guide: Copenhagen list and corresponding map after the break.

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© Adam Mørk

Architects: 3XN Architects
Location: Copenhagen, Denmak
Client: Bella Center A/S
Engineering: Rambøll
Project area: 42,000 sqm
Project year: 2011
Photographs: Adam Mørk

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Courtesy of 3XN

The international team of 3XN and William McDonough + Partners is about to develop one of Europe’s first and most ambitious Cradle to Cradle® projects; the Green Solution House on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. Green Solution House will be an innovative ‘Demonstratorium’ facilitating the development and test of new green technologies on an international scale. At the same time the building will function as a showcase in itself; designed according to the Cradle to Cradle® principles, the project is anticipated to integrate the latest knowledge within materials and appropriate technologies.

More details after the break.

Visit the projects we have previously featured of both firms: 3XN and William McDonough + Partners

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Courtesy of 3XN

Two Danish Studios have been selected to compete in the prestigious competition to design Dublin’s new National Concert Hall. The two finalists were narrowed down from a shortlist of renowned architects from 2008. The two studios, 3XN and Henning Larsen Architects, delivered spectacular designs, which, unfortunately, will not be realized due to the cancellation of competition under Ireland’s fragile economic situation.

Read on for more information after the break read more »

© 3XN

The new Headquarters will be one of Sweden’s most modern and innovative office buildings – focusing on transparency, Scandinavian simplicity and dynamic social environments. Behind the project is the Danish Architect 3XN in collaboration with Humlegården Fastigheter, representing the property owner Länsförsäkringar Liv.

More images and complete press release after the break. read more »

Courtesy of 3XN

Scheduled to open in May 2011, Bella Sky is just six months away from its anticipated debut in Copenhagen, Denmark. The spectacular hotel was designed by architects 3XN and dons a unique design that will certainly make it stand out in the Copenhagen skyline. Read on for more images and information after the break. read more »

©3XN

3XN’s winning proposal for the new structure marking the entrance to Vällingby Parkstad in Stockholm, Sweden,  creates a close relation between work life, housing, and leisure. The building’s curved design embraces the area and the lively shaped balconies opens up the structure towards the surroundings thus raising the park up in the air. The dense city structure at the base adds activity at eye level and life thrives on active roof tops and flowering balconies. Construction is planned to begin in 2011.

More images after the break. read more »

© Adam Mørk

Architects: 3XN
Location: Middelfart, Denmark
Client: Trekantens Ejendomsselskab A/S
Engineering: COWI
Landscape Architects: Schønherr
Project Area: 5,000 sqm
Competition Year: 2005
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Adam Mørk

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MIND YOUR BEHAVIOUR invites you into 3XNs universe and gives a glimpse into the thoughts, visions and processes forming the basis of 3XNs architecture focusing on behaviour. The exhibit challenges the concept of behaviour by providing a direct and physical meeting with 4 meter high abstract building sections as well as inviting the viewer to reflect on how architecture shapes our behaviour. The exhibit displays 28 projects from the last five years of 3XNs work.

The exhibit will be on display at the Danish Architecture Centre until May 13. Afterward it will be on tour. The exhibit is followed by a book, which will be published March 4 in connection with an international summit on ‘Behaviour and the Built Environment’. For further information regarding the event please visit www.dac.dk.

© Adam Mork

Architects: 3XN
Location: Horsens, Denmark
Client: Horsens Municipality
Engineering: Moe & Brødgaard A/S
Project Area: 8,700 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Adam Mork

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A few weeks ago, we featured a competition won by 3XN to transform the former freight train halls in Aarhus, Denmark into a new and dynamic cultural center. After the break, several more images and diagrams about this new cultural hub for scenography, visual arts and literature. read more »

© Adam Mørk

Architects: 3XN
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Client: Carlsberg Ejendomme
Engineering: Rambøll
Project Area: 10,000 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Adam Mørk

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Exterior © 3XN

Danish office 3XN is “on fire” this year: they won the competition for the Randers Museum of Art, the competition for  a new cultural  center in Aarhus, the Saxo Bank won the RIBA International Award, and Kim Herforth Nielsen (partner and founder) received Denmark’s highest Architectural Honour, the C.F. Hansen Medal.

And now, they won the competition for the Frederiksberg Courthouse in Denmark, an extension to a neo-classical building. The new building follows the line of the neighborhood’s architecture, reinterpreted in a contemporary style, following the horizontal lines, materials and roof.

From the public square right next to the building, the heavy volume looks lighter as the opening in the corner give a sense of cantilevering.

More images and the architect’s description after the break:
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© 3XN

Danish architects 3XN has won an Architectural Competition to transform the former freight train halls in Aarhus, Denmark into a new and dynamic cultural center. The new cultural hub for scenography, visual arts and literature will soon be constructed within a historical framework in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus.

The new cultural center is meant to be an inspiring setting that stimulates production of the arts and facilitates the interaction amongst the various artistic metiers, business and education.

3XNs proposal adds elements of nature, with green spaces injecting a natural raw quality which plays up to the historic nature of the existing halls which were used for rail freight in the past. More images and description after the break. read more »

Architect: 3XN
Location: Piet Heinkade 1, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Client: Geemente Amsterdam
Structural engineers: ABT BV, Netherlands
Year of enchargement: 1997
Year of completion: 2005
Constructed area: 15,000 sqm
Photographs: Andrea Giannotti

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