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COWI: The Latest Architecture and News

All-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking and the Lack of Green Space in Cities

As Earth’s population continues to grow, so does car traffic and issues related to climate change. It has been estimated about 30% of urban roadway congestion are drivers searching for a place to park. Car culture puts the pressure on cities to build more parking garages, which usually win out over green parks. Meanwhile, climate change continues to challenge cities to handle a great deal of stormwater. The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season is proof of this - as of Monday, 13 named storms have formed in the Atlantic ocean, costing 210 lives and counting.

THIRD NATURE, a Danish architecture firm, designed a solution for the modern-day urban issues of flooding, parking and lacking green spaces with their project, POP-UP. A stacked green space, car park, and water reservoir, from top to bottom respectively, POP-UP uses Archimedes’ principle to store water and create floating space to store cars.

All-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking and the Lack of Green Space in Cities - Sustainability & Green Design, Facade, CityscapeAll-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking and the Lack of Green Space in Cities - Sustainability & Green Design, Fence, HandrailAll-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking and the Lack of Green Space in Cities - Sustainability & Green Design, Facade, Lighting, CityscapeAll-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking and the Lack of Green Space in Cities - Sustainability & Green Design, Facade, CityscapeAll-In-One Structure Solves Flooding, Parking and the Lack of Green Space in Cities - More Images+ 9

This Copenhagen Diabetes Center Connects Patients to Nature

The team of COWI A/S, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Mikkelsen Architects, and STED Landscape has been selected to design Copenhagen’s new diabetes center, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. Based on the idea of creating a connection to nature, the Center weaves together the indoors and outdoors, in order to stimulate and nurture patients and visitors.

The main entrance to the project faces south to ensure natural lighting, and features a rolling landscape that leads inside, with an in situ poured concrete pathway and landscaped staircases that connect to a public rooftop garden.

On arrival, visitors are greeted by a luscious, rolling landscape leading inside. The area is designed with curiosity in mind – from the outset patients and visitors must feel welcome and enticed to explore.

 This Copenhagen Diabetes Center Connects Patients to Nature - Table, Lighting, Chair This Copenhagen Diabetes Center Connects Patients to Nature - Garden, Fence, Cityscape This Copenhagen Diabetes Center Connects Patients to Nature - Facade, Bench, Chair This Copenhagen Diabetes Center Connects Patients to Nature - Facade, Beam, Chair This Copenhagen Diabetes Center Connects Patients to Nature - More Images+ 9

Rigshospital Expansion Competition Proposal / COWI, WHITE Arkitekter, DEVE Architecture, LAND+ Landskabsarkitekter, Lyngkilde

Rigshospital Expansion Competition Proposal / COWI, WHITE Arkitekter, DEVE Architecture, LAND+ Landskabsarkitekter, Lyngkilde  - Image 13 of 4
exterior

The Rigshospital is well-defined by Fælledparken and Amorparken at it’s boundaries, and due to these park areas, the hospital campus exudes a unique ‘green’ potential. The buildings serve as an intermediary between the dense urban fabric on Blegdamsvej and the open natural areas to the north of the site. This interconnectedness strongly influenced the concept and form of this scheme by the team of COWI, WHITE Arkitekter, DEVE Architecture, LAND+ Landskabsarkitekter and Lyngkilde, leading to what could eventually become a hospital nestled within a lush, green, natural environment within the bustling urban center of Copenhagen. More images and architects’ description after the break.