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Henning Larsen Architects: The Latest Architecture and News

AD Interviews: Anne Marie Galmstrup / Henning Larsen Architects

Speaking from the newly-opened Istanbul practice of Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen Architects, Anne Marie Galmstrup describes her scandinavian design process in the context of her role as Principal-in-Charge of projects in Turkey. "Architecture is about space and about interaction between people," Galmstrup says, asking "How does it work here? How is it different in this cultural environment or in that climate?" Galmstrup discusses the atmosphere in Turkey, and how to engage young architects. Henning Larsen has hosted a series of "Imagination Schools," two-week workshops set in the middle east charged with overcoming regional design challenges, and Galmstrup has been instrumental in the orchestration of these and many more projects over her ten year tenure at Henning Larsen.

VIDEO: Henning Larsen Architects on Building Ambitions for Society

From Henning Larsen Architects. "Architecture is the opposite of the coca-cola-principle," says Louis Becker, director of Henning Larsen Architects, in this interview with Louisiana Channel. He continues by explaining that architecture is, first and foremost, about seeing things grow. With architecture your dreams become physical: “We are building our ambitions for society.” If architecture was separate from life and society, it would be an uninteresting form and space. The inside of a building must have a relation to the outside; there has to be a dialogue between the life and hope inside, and the city as a whole.

Architecture is also a merger of cultures and ideas. Scandinavian ideas of transparency, democracy and equal access affect the way Henning Larsen Architects approaches architecture. But, at the same time, it is very important to think of what is necessary in the nature, culture and climate that you are working with. "When two different ways of seeing the world meet, that's when something interesting happens."

In this video, Becker explains these ideas in relation to two very different projects, one in Saudia Arabia and The Harpa Concert Hall in Reyjavik, Iceland (which was made in collaboration with artist Olafur Eliasson and won the prestigious Mies van der Rohe award in 2013).

Arup to Collaborate with Henning Larsen on European Spallation Source

Danish Architect Henning Larsen, "Master of Light," Dead at 87

Danish Architect Henning Larsen, "Master of Light," Dead at 87 - Image 1 of 4
Winner / Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre / Courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects

Harpa Concert Hall wins the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award 2013

Harpa, the Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Iceland, is the winner of the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award the European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation announced today. Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, Batteríið Architects and Studio Olafur Eliasson the building has helped to transform and revitalise Reykjavik harbour and brought the city and harbour district closer together.

The 'Emerging Architect Special Mention' award goes to María Langarita and Víctor Navarro for the Nave de Música Matadero (Red Bull Music Academy) in Madrid, Spain. The award ceremony will take place on 7 June at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, coinciding with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the prize.

More information after the break.

Finalists for Mies van der Rohe Award Selected

Finalists for Mies van der Rohe Award Selected - Featured Image
Superkilen / Topotek 1 + BIG + Superflex. Image © Iwan Baan.

The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe have announced the five finalists who will compete for the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, also known as the Mies van der Rohe Award. Out of 355 works submitted from 37 countries, five have been short-listed, including BIG's Superkilen (also up for an ArchDaily Building of the Year Award for best public facility).

The overall winner of the Prize, as well as the 'special mention' award for best emerging architect, will be announced in May, with an award ceremony on June 6th at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, Spain. See all 5 finalists, after the break... 

'In Dialogue With the World - Give More' Exhibition

'In Dialogue With the World - Give More' Exhibition - Featured Image
Courtesy of schmidt hammer lassen architects, Henning Larsen Architects, ADEPT

Opening tomorrow, January 17, at the Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) in Copenhagen, Denmark, the ‘In Dialogue with the World’ exhibition, which runs until March 10, will show how architects today engage far beyond aesthetics when designing buildings. schmidt hammer lassen architects, along with Henning Larsen Architects, and ADEPT will invite visitors to listen to their accounts of what it is like to work in the field of architecture in the 21st century. With the title Give more, the schmidt hammer lassen architects’ part of the exhibition uses eight selected projects as examples of how buildings, aside from being beautiful, give more. More information after the break.

WorkAC, SO - IL, and Henning Larsen Architects To Compete For UC Davis Art Museum

WorkAC, SO - IL, and Henning Larsen Architects To Compete For UC Davis Art Museum - Image 1 of 4
Viborg Town Hall, by Henning Larsen Architects, one of 4 architectural firms competing to design UC Davis' next Art Museum. © Thorbjoern Hansen Kontraframe

The University of California Davis (UCD) has selected three pairings of architects and contractors to compete to design a $30-million art museum, expected to be completed in 2016. The university has decided against a traditional competition in favor of a design-build competition, requesting that each of the prospective architects - WorkAC, SO-IL (working with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, of Apple store fame), and Henning Larsen Architects - work with specific contractors in order to develop holistically conceived museum schemes. More information after the break.

Sølund Retirement Community Second Prize Winning Proposal / Henning Larsen Architects

Sølund Retirement Community Second Prize Winning Proposal / Henning Larsen Architects - Image 7 of 4
Courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects

Located in one of the most distinguished locations in Copenhagen, the second prize winning proposal for the Sølund Retirement Community by Henning Larsen Architects is designed as one large, continuous building block. Their design engages in close dialogue with the surrounding buildings and creates simple, easily accessible spatialities – both on the inside and on the outside. Also including a new daycare center, the project incorporates the qualities of the residents’ previous homes in a new retirement community based on worthiness and well-being, safety and social relations. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Busan Opera House Proposal: 3rd Prize Winner / Henning Larsen Architects + Tomoon Architects

Busan Opera House Proposal: 3rd Prize Winner / Henning Larsen Architects + Tomoon Architects - Image 25 of 4
Courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects + Tomoon Architects

Henning Larsen Architects and Tomoon Architects recently won the third prize in the international competition for designing the new opera in Busan, South Korea. Connecting the citizens of Busan to the waterfront, their design takes it’s inspiration from the particular location in Busan. The clear shape of the grand roof creates a magnificent icon in the vertical context of high-rises and mountains. At the same time it creates a subtle unity with the ocean and the horizon. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Henning Larsen awarded the Praemium Imperiale for Architecture

Henning Larsen awarded the Praemium Imperiale for Architecture - Featured Image
Courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects

The Japan Art Association has named Danish architect Henning Larsen the 2012 Praemium Imperiale laureate for architecture.

Created in 1988 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Japan Art Association and to honor the late Prince Takamatsu, the prestigious Praemium Imperiale awards recognize outstanding, lifetime achievements in the arts categories not covered by the Nobel Prizes: architecture, painting, sculpture, music and theatre/film.

The 2012 Praemium Imperiale laureates:

Town Hall and Health Center / Henning Larsen Architects

Town Hall and Health Center / Henning Larsen Architects - Image 9 of 4
Courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects

Spearheading the development of the new district in Egedal, Demark, the town hall and health center will be the uniting center of the new Municipality of the city as one of the first buildings in the new planned urban area around Egedal Station. Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, their proposal won the highest score for all criteria in the competition to get the first prize. The health center will become an active part of the town hall, while at the same time offering citizens the opportunity to use the area outside town hall opening hours. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Klaksvík City Centre / Henning Larsen Architects

Klaksvík City Centre / Henning Larsen Architects - Image 10 of 4
© Wesam Asali

Henning Larsen Architects has won the competition for developing a 150,000 sqm area in the second-largest city in the Faroe Islands, Klaksvík. The area will comprise a cultural house, a museum, residences, offices and shops. 154 competition proposals were submitted in the open, international competition. More images and architect’s description after the break.

Emmen Theatre and Zoo Entrance / Henning Larsen Architects and Van den Berg Groep

Emmen Theatre and Zoo Entrance / Henning Larsen Architects and Van den Berg Groep - Image 17 of 4
Courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects and Van den Berg Groep

Emmen Theatre and Zoo, designed by Henning Larsen Architects and Van den Berg Groep, is an unusual cultural building that brings together culture and nature. The building design, which won the first prize in the international competition, will constitute the entrance to a large zoological park of 10 hectares and comprises two main stages with a capacity of 1,150 people in total, an additional stage, exhibition and conference facilities. The building in itself covers 16,000 m2. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Video: Harpa Concert Hall / Henning Larsen Architects and Olafur Eliasson

Designed by Henning Larsen Architects and Batteriid Architects, the Harpa Concert Hall was one of the finalists for Building of the Year. On the border between land and sea, the Center stands out as a large, radiant sculpture reflecting both sky and harbor space as well as the vibrant life of the city. This is all very elegantly represented in Pedro Kok‘s video which gives us more insight to the building from multiple viewpoints.

Aurora / Henning Larsen Architects

Aurora / Henning Larsen Architects - Featured Image

Aurora is the title of Henning Larsen Architects’s entry for the new university hospital in Odense, Denmark. It was recently named among the three finalists. The iconic building complex provides an ideal framework for quality healthcare in the region of southern Denmark. The new Odense University Hospital (OUH) embodies an innovative building of high architectural quality, designed to meet the requirements and challenges of tomorrow. Like the goddess Aurora, the hospital finds renewal in the transition between old and new – and the conversion from tradition to modernity. The human scale supports the conception of the hospital as ”the good host” and a place where patients and visitors can easily orient themselves and feel at home. When approaching Aurora, you are met by an inviting and recognizable urban scale, where the complex is divided into varied units with each their clear entrance and reception area.

Siemens Headquarters / Henning Larsen Architects

Siemens Headquarters / Henning Larsen Architects - Image 22 of 4
rendering

Henning Larsen Architects was recently awarded the international competition for Siemens’ new headquarters. The design by Henning Larsen Architects is an urban, recognizable composition of plazas, courtyards and alleys that will unfold a new, vibrant urban space in central Munich. Siemens and Munich are integrated into a harmonious whole by merging two archetypal entities – mass (Siemens) and void (Munich) – into a complementing formation. The city opens up the mass, which in response opens up to the city.

Batumi Aquarium by Henning Larsen Architects is named Architecture of the Year by 2011 International Design Awards

Batumi Aquarium by Henning Larsen Architects is named Architecture of the Year by 2011 International Design Awards - Featured Image
© Henning Larsen Architects

Back in August, we featured Henning Larsen Architects’ winning proposal in an invited competition to design the Batumi Aquarium in Georgia. Today, we are happy to announce that the Danish architects received the “Architecture of the Year” award by the 2011 International Design Awards in Los Angeles. Congratulations!