Video: JDS Architects: an introduction

This is a short video giving a brief history of JDS Architects, founded by Julien De Smedt, co-founder of PLOT with Bjarke Ingels. Julien takes us down memory lane and explains the past and present of his career from Skateboarding to Architecture and the issues that interest his office today. More videos can be found on their vimeo site.

Architecture City Guide: Copenhagen

This week, with the help of our readers, our Architecture City Guide is headed to . 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 ’s architecture. The Danish attention to detail is absolutely stunning. Besides the wonderful historic architecture, 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 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.

Sjakket Youth Club / PLOT

Architects: PLOT = BIG + JDS
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Client: Sjakket Youth Club, Realdania
Partner in Charge: Bjarke Ingels
Collaborator: Julien De Smedt
Project Leader: Sophus Søbye
Project Architect: Sophus Søbye
Contributors: Bo Benzon, Christian Dam, David Zahle, Julie Schmidt-Nielsen, Kathrin Gimmel, Louise Steffensen, Mia Frederiksen, Nanna Gyldholm Møller, Nina Ter-Borch, Ole Elkjær-Larsen, Ole Nannberg, Olmo Ahlmann, Søren Lambertsen
Constructed Area: 2,000 sqm
Project year: 2007
Budget: US $3,880,000
Photographs: Vegar Moen

Maritime Youth House / PLOT

Architects: PLOT = BIG + JDS
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Client: Kvaterloft Copenhagen, Loa Fund
Collaborator: ARCHITECTS, BIRCH & KROGBOE
Constructed Area: 2,000 sqm
Project year: 2004
Budget: US $1,950,000
Photographs: Julien de Smedt, Mads Hilmer, Esben Bruun, Paolo Rosselli

VM Houses / PLOT = BIG + JDS

Architects: BIG + JDS = PLOT
Location: Copenhagen,
Collaborators: Plot, JDS, MOE & Brodsgaard
Client: Hopfner A/S, Dansk Olie Kompagni A/S
Contractor: Hopfner A/S
Program: 230 Apartments
Construction period: 2004 – 2005
Total Area: 25000 sqm
Photography: & JDS