CASCADING AQUATIC CENTRE
26 Apr 2018
COBE has released images for their proposed aquatic centre in Copenhagen Harbour, which will consist of a range of facilities connected by a “continuous cascading flow of waterfalls” that seeks to revitalise local community engagement through an exciting public space.
The scheme was entered for a design competition that was ultimately won by Kengo Kuma. The proposal, designed in collaboration with Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG), formed part of COBE’s competition-winning masterplan for Paper Island, which was chosen for development in 2016.
The COBE proposal for the aquatic centre, named “The Waterfall,” consists of a large public hall containing a range of aquatic facilities connected by the waterfalls. The profile of the centre adheres to the distinctive roof motif of the Paper Island masterplan, with large sloping surfaces and gables orientated towards the harbour waterfront, and a twisted form addressing both the harbor and surrounding public space.
With a simple gesture of twisting the top, the aquatics centre addresses both the harbor and the inner courtyard on Paper Island, becoming a part of the informal, vivid public life on the island as well as placing it amongst some of the most important cultural institutions along the harbour front of Copenhagen.
Having prevailed in the design competition, Kengo Kuma's aquatic centre will form part of a masterplan for the artificial Paper Island, which also includes housing, commercial space, and galleries. The masterplan was designed by COBE, following an international competition in 2016, with the aquatic centre being the focus of a separate design competition in 2017.
In addition to Kengo Kuma and COBE, the competition for the aquatic centre attracted submissions from firms such as AART, 3XN, and Studio Octopi.