MVRDV Copenhagen, Gemini Residence, Islands Brygge Residential Architecture Photos, Info

Grain Silos Copenhagen

Gemini Housing, Denmark: Contemporary Danish Building design by MVRDV Architects

27 Mar 2022
New Danish capital architectural photographs

view across Islands Brygge from the North (bridge from Fisketorvet):

photos © Adrian Welch

close ups of the rippling balconies that clutch to the original concrete silo buildings:

Recent Islands Brygge building and harbour view to the East:

post updated 7 August 2021 ; 3 Sep 2016 ; 7 Apr 2006

Location: Siloen, Islands Brygge, just south of Copenhagen centre

photograph © Adrian Welch

Directions: Walk or take bus 40 from the city centre – main railway station / Tivoli

Completion: late 2005 / early 2006

photo © Adrian Welch

Gemini Housing Copenhagen – Grain Silos Housing

photos © Adrian Welch

Pair of former seed silos on Copenhagen waterfront converted into 86 contemporary residential apartments

More Gemini Copenhagen Photos in the archive – available upon request

Architects: MVRDV with JJW Arkitekter

photos © Adrian Welch

Nye Bygning i København

Overall impression: strong simple concept beautifully carried through at the macro scale. However the building is cold to the passing pedestrian, devoid of planting or soft surfaces, with no concierge. Whilst we were there we saw no-one enter, pass by or linger in half an hour; the raw retained concrete represents a cool idea – ‘keep the silos and build round them above street level’ – but in reality thrusts poor material badly handled into your main field of vision.

photos © Adrian Welch

Although the interior atria are intriguing and strongly modelled the building lacks a sense of magic. Passing through the mini-chasm should be exciting and celebrated, but floor, wall and soffit seem not to care, and a sense of a good concept not quite hitting the spot once built.

Figure of eight plan simply expressed

Gemini Residence seen in context of dense new housing; rippling new facades

Rain shadow creates poetry; boldy toned interior continues circular theme in lights

The Chasm: gap between seed silos from dock side, street side

Details of junctions between old concrete and new materials

We aim to visit this building again soon (Ed – we did, photos at the top of the page) to re-evaluate it after it has had a chance to ‘settle in’. True we saw it on a rainy day but the architecture should be robust enough to impress. More positively you have got to admire MVRDV’s guts in pushing through such a bold programme.

MVRDV Architects, NL

Photos of the building 7 April 2006 © Adrian Welch

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark, western Europe