From secret island to tourist attraction in Denmark

In 2016 Danish super architecture firm Cobe took on the redevelopment of Paper Island in central Copenhagen, which will be finished in 2024. Here I have a quick chat with Dan Stubbergaard, Cobe’s founder, about the work that goes into such a project.

Tell me about Paper Island.

Paper Island is one of the most prominent locations in the inner harbour of Copenhagen. It is a post-industrial site, previously used for paper storage and off-limits to the public. Then the industrial halls on the island were temporarily transformed into street food halls, art galleries, for concerts and flea markets.

What does the project entail?

Most of the buildings on the island proved to be in very poor condition, in terms of maintenance and sustainability, and not worth preserving. So instead we decided to rebuild them. The island will contain condos, co-operative social housing, a hotel and a water culture house, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma — all these functions are tied together at ground floor containing new halls and a harbour promenade. The island itself will be car-free — it will be a place for people. It is hopefully going to be a very dynamic and vivid place in the harbour. There is an extraordinary responsibility on our shoulders as architects to create a new frame for life on the island.

What are the challenges of redeveloping this sort of site?

It is a once-in-a-life-time-opportunity to build so centrally in the capital of Denmark. It is also a very sensitive and historical place. The challenge is to create iconic, contemporary architecture, which is in balance with the historical surroundings, both fitting in and standing out at the same time.