KALVEBOD BRYGGE 32

Award-winning facade renovation with Ultra High Performance Concrete

Build Year

2019-2020

Architect

Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects

Engineer

Erik Pedersen Rådgivende Ingeniører

Builder

Genesta

RENOVATION OF KB32 WITH UHPC

The iconic Kalvebod Brygge 32 (KB32) in Copenhagen has undergone a remarkable renovation. After years of neglect, the six-story building required extensive restoration to revive its unique brutalist style and enhance its functionality. For years, the building lay almost abandoned until it was renovated and transformed into an open office domicile spanning 29,200 sqm, winning multiple awards, including "Office Building of the Year (2022)" by Nohrcon and "City's Best Architecture (2022)" by Berlingske.

The goal of the renovation process was to restore the building's original expression and enhance its qualities with natural materials, spacious interiors, and natural light. Hi-Con is proud to have contributed to the project by supplying Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) elements that helped fulfill the architects' vision. The innovative use of UHPC elements has helped transform KB32 into a stylish, modern, and functional workspace while preserving its original brutalist expression.

The KB32 renovation project stands as a testament to the possibilities of transforming iconic buildings into vibrant and functional spaces that meet the demands of modern workplaces.

RENOVATION WITH SELF-SUPPORTING FACADE ELEMENTS

UHPC is a remarkable material that allows us to create elements that perfectly match a building's original expression. It has extraordinary compressive strength and durability and can be cast into very slender and lightweight elements. This makes it an ideal choice for renovation projects that require both aesthetic appeal and load-bearing capacity, especially when large formats need to be cast.

You can read more about it here.

For the KB32 renovation project, Hi-Con delivered insulated and self-supporting facade panels with a wood texture that resembles the building's original surface with wooden planks. The surface was carefully selected to match the appearance of the original 120 mm planks, and the panels were colored in a warm and light gray shade to achieve the building's original hue.

The facade panels consist of a 40 mm thin front plate, measuring over 7 meters in height, and are prepared with insulation on the backside. Despite their size, the panels are self-supporting and do not add additional load to the existing structure.

Additionally, they support four balconies and a straight staircase, all made of UHPC.

FANTASTIC BALCONIES AND A STAIRCASE

In addition to delivering 1300 sqm of facade elements, Hi-Con also supplied four 18-meter-long balconies and a 24-meter-long straight staircase for the KB32 renovation project.

The elements are made of UHPC, enhancing not only the building's aesthetics but also its functionality. Their self-supporting design and support columns allow the elements to be installed without adding additional load to the building.

The balconies are attached to the facade elements, which also provide support, while the staircase is supported by columns, completing the transformation of KB32 into a modern and functional workspace.

Read more about our balcony solutions here