Their “House of Peace”, or Hope, is a 3,000 sq metre cloud-like structure that will seem to float on the city’s Nordhavn harbour. Svenborg Architects, and Junya Ishigami propose a white concrete shell supported by cones embedded in the harbour bed, its centre will be hollow, with locals and tourists able to board circular boats and sail beneath the structure’s undulating canopy. Visitors will be able to board circular boats to move through the cavernous interior, intended to look like lily pads floating over a pond.
"House of Peace creates an environment where people can open up to think of peace. It takes one back to the purity of being – ready to embrace the world," said the team in a statement.
The competition was launched by non-profit organisation the HOPE Foundation and is intended to provide a physical manifestation of the work done by the United Nations and other international peace organisations.
"...winning proposal meets every bit of the vision of our project," said HOPE Foundation chairman Morten Langebæk, who also works as an architect and designer.
"This is nothing less than an architectural masterpiece. A fascinating, poetic building and an obvious symbol of peace; at the same time a building, a sculpture and a symbol."
Description of the project by Architects.
Cloud as roof, ocean as floor.
House of Peace provides a journey of the senses. It creates an environment where people can open up to think of peace. Our House of Peace takes you back to the purity of being - ready to embrace the world.
The House of Peace is a symbol of peaceful coexistence. It positions itself in its surroundings as a landmark which conspicuously reveals itself to the outside world. At the same time it harmoniously embeds itself to the sites proportions, future buildings and the connection to the harbor and the water.
Visitors will be able to see the House of Peace appearing as a cloud floating in between the sea and the skyline.
With its unique appearance from every angle the House of Peace will be present in its own right as an element in the water and at the same time appear as an integrated landmark with a strong iconographic quality as a landmark at Nordhavn. An elegant sculpture which ads artistic value to the whole city of Copenhagen.
The building's organic shape and strong simplicity stands out in the harbors otherwise orthogonal and rigid character. The House of Peace captivates the sight by floating on the water as a cloud in the sky as a monument of peace.
Cloud as roof, ocean as floor
The cloud shaped sculpture becomes both roof and wall. The water surface will serve as the floor. These two important elements make an interior space appear on this location.
The space is thus always filled with new influences and will never twice be experienced as the same.
At the platform in the main room the visitors can board circular boats and enter the silence of the water surface. The boats can drift out into the entire room. The boats are floating seemingly effortless like leaves or water lilies on water.
CREDITS.
Architects.- Junya Ishigami + Associates, Svendborg Architects
Size.- 3000m²
Client.- House of Peace in collabration with Rambøll Denmark, CPH City and Port Development and the City of Copenhagen
Status.- winner, 1st. Prize.
