Interaction between buildings and history

Den Røde By, in the Århusgade district in Nordhavn, has been reborn as a new community hub for the area. It's a transformation with great respect for historical values.

Among the smaller buildings in Den Røde By are some of the oldest industrial buildings in Nordhavn. These have now been repurposed and form part of an integrated development that attracts attention and has even been longlisted for the Danish Retrofit Award 2025. Creating a successful transformation requires a focus on both cohesion and detail. With features such as restaurants, cafés, boutique shops and artisan studios, an interplay emerges between buildings and place, facilitated by the opening-up of the buildings’ lower floors.

Materials have played an important role and also keep the project moving forward. As much as possible, building elements such as flooring have been preserved, supplemented with new hemp block insulation and clay plaster for the older buildings. New buildings feature CLT wood components and thermally modified timber. The entire build is DGNB gold-certified.

Restoration with the indoor climate in mind

Through the creation of a new public square and passages, a refined, compact urban environment has emerged. Atelier September in the former ammunition depot offers outdoor service through new, large openings in the facade. The café’s space has a wonderful atmosphere with its many small windows and vaulted ceiling. The original wooden rafters and red iron beams, between which there was previously a concrete deck, have been preserved. Troldtekt panels in natural wood between the rafters complement the material composition while ensuring brilliant acoustics in the café. In the former workshop warehouse on the opposite side of the square, Troldtekt has likewise been chosen between the rafters on the ceiling. 

The expansion of Den Røde By includes several new buildings which blend nicely into the historic site through the adaptation of scale, colours and surfaces. Troldtekt panels are a recurring feature throughout the building, complemented by wood on the upper floors, and the combination of wood-clad walls and Troldtekt panels in natural wood creates harmonious spaces.