Tucked-away offices in Nørrebro district of Copenhagen

After light-touch renovation, a former factory building in the Nørrebro district of central Copenhagen has recently been transformed into charming offices – with that special ambience that comes from mixing past and present.

Surrounded by blocks of flats on all sides, the yellow brick building, which dates from 1883, is a former forge, but now the creatives are moving in. The architects OVER BYEN Arkitekter have refurbished the building, and with their characteristic sensitive approach to the potential of existing buildings, little more than the damp has been removed in the conversion process. Depanneurs has office and storage facilities on the ground floor and, despite the slightly tucked-away location, daylight now floods these white rooms. The windows were replaced, of course, but with respect for the history of the building. Inside, the white tiles on the walls, glass bricks and the original sliding doors have been retained.

Few additions               

Throughout, you find traces of the building’s former use and the resultant wear and tear. The refurbishment also added new wooden flooring and new acoustic panel ceilings. The new surfaces make the room more textural and welcoming without detracting from the authentic ambience contributed by the worn tiles. The white Troldtekt acoustic panels on the ceilings also help to ensure good acoustics – practical for an office environment.

“The premises have been given new features, but details have been preserved and accentuated to illustrate the history of the building. The choice of colours and materials complements and enhances the character of the building, visually highlighting the authentic design.
A back-to-basics and extensive refurbishment has extended the life of the building – with interiors that make a feature of its history. The building at Rådmandsgade has been turned into a huge asset for its owners and users,” according to OVER BYEN arkitekter.