Tag Archives: Bjarke Ingels Group

BIG Transforms A Former Aldi Store Into A Visually Stunning Paper-Inspired Paper Museum

Posted on by

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) recently transformed a former Aldi store into an extraordinary museum. This isn’t something we see usually, but it is interesting to see the firm convert a humble store into something quite so impressive. The former store will be completely transformed into a paper museum with a light-filled space.

A visually intriguing and eye-catching roof will top the structure, and remind you of a massive piece of paper, that seems to be draped over the building. It is located in Jutland, Denmark, and currently, there aren’t any photos of the original store. But we have caught a glimpse of the current museum building. Dive in!

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

The building occupies around 900 sq m, but it will be increased to double the size to host workshops, events, teaching rooms, offices, and storage facilities. The pre-existing building walls will be equipped with a new acoustic-regulating layer of paper art on the exterior. This paper art draws inspiration from origami, and it will include loads of glazing.

The timber sourced will be from the same wood used to produce the paper. The museum will host paper-related exhibitions, and currently, it also includes a Paper-Plane airport and paper boats for children to interact and play with. It will be exciting to watch the exhibitions and events the museum will hold in the future.

“Paper art is about creating three-dimensional shapes and complex images from a monochromatic two-dimensional material – a sheet of paper,” said BIG boss Bjarke Ingels. “By treating the roof surface as such – a single sheet of folded paper – existing and new functions are brought together in one unifying gesture. The expressive is accentuated by the clear, complexity arises from simplicity. And an obsolete supermarket finds new life under the floating curved roof.”

The Museum for Papirkunst is a fine example of how many architectural designs and firms are undertaking initiatives to conduct massive and ambitious renovations. They are taking steps to improve existing buildings and elevating them, instead of building new structures and creating more pollution. This is a commendable effort on the part of majors firms and designers.

The post BIG Transforms A Former Aldi Store Into A Visually Stunning Paper-Inspired Paper Museum first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bjarke Ingels Group’s New HQ In Copenhagen Is An Energy-Efficient Concrete Wonder

Posted on by

The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is known for creating extraordinary and unique buildings, they recently designed their own headquarters, and we’re really quite curious to know more about it. The HQ is called Piranesian, and it is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is tucked away in a popular section of the Nordhavn Harbor neighborhood. It isn’t as extravagant as some of BIG’s creations and instead adopts the form of a chunky concrete building with a height of 89 feet. A 460-ft staircase wraps around the exterior of the building, forming an outdoor terrace and fire escape for all seven floors.

Designer: BIG

The building is made from Uni-Green concrete, which was developed in collaboration with Unicon. A section of the cement clinker was replaced with calcined clay and lime filler, leading to a carbon dioxide reduction of around 25% in comparison to a traditional concrete mix. The interior adopts a lot of concrete, and some wood too. It also features another large staircase that seems to zigzag through the multiple floors. The inside is designed to be free-flowing, with an ample amount of floor space left available. Natural light was maximized, and an elevator and a small secondary staircase were placed at the northern edge of the structure.

Quite a bit of greenery was incorporated around the building as well. The outdoor staircase features wind-tolerant species of trees, shrubs, herbs, and perennials. The herbs are utilized by the chefs for cooking in the staff canteen. The rooftop terrace is equipped with wood from a local sawmill and plenty more greenery. The terrace also offers lovely views of the surrounding landscape. A park was also constructed for visitors.

“At the tip of Sundmolen in Nordhavn, we’ve transformed what was once a parking lot into a 1,500-sq-m (roughly 16,000-sq-ft) beach park – a hidden gem in the heart of the city,” said Giulia Frittoli, Partner and Head of BIG Landscape. “Inspired by Denmark’s beautiful coastal landscapes, we envisioned a place where people can relax, play, fish, and connect with nature. The park reflects what would have naturally grown here before the harbor emerged, making it an homage to both the past and future.”

BIG’s HQ is designed to be pretty energy-efficient,  given its size and type. The roof is marked with solar panels to cut down on grid-based power use. A combination of a geothermal energy system and natural ventilation delivers 84% of heating requirements, and 100% of its cooling.

The post Bjarke Ingels Group’s New HQ In Copenhagen Is An Energy-Efficient Concrete Wonder first appeared on Yanko Design.

BIG Designs A Timber College That Merges Cutting-Edge Engineered Wood With Traditional Japanese Joinery

Posted on by

Iconic design studio Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has recently unveiled plans for an innovative timber college building that merges cutting-edge engineered wood with traditional Japanese joinery techniques to form a rather impressive-looking and sustainable structure. Dubbed the Makers’ KUbe, this unique educational facility is designed for the University of Kansas’ School of Architecture and Design. It includes a timber frame which will be insulated with a hemp-based material, and gently wrapped in glass. These little features will add an exceptional look, and allow the natural beauty of wood to truly shine through.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

The Makers’ KUbe features a stripped-back design that uses only what is needed. It leaves the mechanical electrical and plumbing systems on display. It also features a glass exterior which is a wonderful mix of opaque and clear glass, hence providing privacy, and reducing glare at certain points.

“The Makers’ KUbe is a 50,000-square-foot [roughly 4,600 sq m] mass timber cube structure,” explains BIG’s press release. “The KUbe’s distinct timber diagrid frame – engineered by structural engineer StructureCraft – is optimized to reduce material and curtail carbon-intensive concrete. Inspired by traditional Japanese joinery techniques, the building’s structure uses tight-fit dowels and notched glulam – or glue-laminated timber – to create an all-wood structure with columns and beams that run diagonally, without steel plates or fasteners.”

The interior of the building includes six floors, and an open plan layout which provides flexible glass space, creating an environment of collaboration between students. The structure also includes a central staircase which facilitates easy access between the spaces. It will also contain 3D-printing facilities and robotic labs, as well as a cafe. The second floor will include two bridges that connect to the adjacent buildings. The structure was built using wood, and it will feature solar panels on the roof to reduce dependency on the grid. Rainwater harvesting will be utilized for irrigation.

Since it is a timber building, there is concern about fire safety. However modern engineered wood was used to construct the structure, and it has been proven to perform better than steel in a fire.

The post BIG Designs A Timber College That Merges Cutting-Edge Engineered Wood With Traditional Japanese Joinery first appeared on Yanko Design.

BIG designs an energy efficient residential complex in Amsterdam shaped like the bow of a ship

Posted on by

Bjarke Ingels Group and Barcode Architects collaborated to create ‘Sluishuis’ – an angular residential complex placed above the IJ Lake in Amsterdam. The structure’s sharp geometric ends meet in the air, water, and land, creating a mesmerizing structure that seems to be jutting into the sky while resembling the bow of a ship! It is constructed on an artificial island in the IJ Lake and forms a geometrically-intriguing gateway from the lake.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group x Barcode Architects

“Our Sluishuis is conceived as a city block of downtown Amsterdam floating in the IJ lake, complete with all aspects of city life. Towards the city, the building kneels down to invite visitors to climb its roof and enjoy the panoramic view of the new neighborhoods on the IJ,” said BIG founding partner Bjarke Ingels.

Sluishuis was built while paying respect to the naval history of the Netherlands, and the fact that water plays a major role in the city of Amsterdam. BIG wanted to celebrate this heritage, and Amsterdam’s relationship with water while constructing the structure. The residential complex consists of 442 apartments – both owner-occupied and rental. You get stunning views from every side and angle of the building. You can quite literally sip your morning tea while watching boats sail beneath you!  “We have tried to design a building with a surprisingly changing perspective and a unique contemporary character, which reflects the identity of the future residents and all users of Sluishuis,” said Dirk Peters, a founding partner at Barcode Architects.

Four large blocks make up the entire development. Two blocks are positioned on either side of the square. They are cantilevered to create a unique opening above the water. While the other two blocks form terraces with apartments opening out on top balconies. All four blocks are positioned around a courtyard, which leads to the water. A sailing school, a water sports center, and a restaurant with a terrace are placed on the ground floor. The blocks above the ground floor include apartments of different sizes – from studios to penthouses. The two floors on the top hold the duplex penthouses.

All the apartments have been equipped with triple-glazing, great insulation, and heat recovery from the showers and ventilation systems. In fact, the entire building is solar-powered! The energy is provided by 2200 square meters of solar panels. The energy-neutral structure has also been amped with plenty of green areas and a floating garden.

BIG’s Sluishuis is an excellent example of how large structures can be built without disrupting the environment and by paying respect to Mother Earth.

The post BIG designs an energy efficient residential complex in Amsterdam shaped like the bow of a ship first appeared on Yanko Design.

BIG unveils a ’50 Queens’ installation which celebrates the female pioneers in Danish history

Posted on by

Danish architecture studio BIG recently unveiled 50 pedestals without statues in Copenhagen, Denmark – a sculptural installation in honor of Queen Margrethe II’s 50th Jubilee. Named 50 Queens, the installation was designed by the youngest female partner at BIG, and is meant to draw attention to, and celebrate the “fearless women” of the country. The statues are laid out in an interesting gradient, with the tallest one at one end, and the shortest one at the other end.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

“Our exhibition celebrates the untold stories of women who have made significant contributions to Danish history but haven’t yet been properly recognized,” said BIG partner Giulia Frittoli.”As more focus is brought to issues of social justice and equality, we are so proud and honored to contribute to the conversation and give a voice to those who haven’t been heard,” Frittoli continued.

Copenhagen currently has more statues of men, than women. There are 5 statues of women in proportion to almost 70 statues of men. Doesn’t sound too equal, does it? Frittoli thought the same, and hoped to balance out the situation with her installation which encircles an equestrian statue of Danish king Christian V within Copenhagen’s Kongens Nytorv. The installation consists of 49 white pedestals, with varying heights, each representing a woman who dominated and left her mark on Danish history.

A female-dominated jury comprising of a former politician, a visual artist, several history professors, and researchers, plus the director of the National Gallery of Denmark was assembled to select the 49 women. The 50th woman was not picked and has been left anonymous, to lead the public to pick and provide a name of their own, by scanning a QR code. Instead of wood, this pedestal is clad with mirrors, so “you can see yourself and you can see anyone”. All the pedestals hold a plaque with the name of the female pioneer, along with a QR code, allowing you to scan the code and read up more about the women, their lives, and their work.

“With 50 Queens, I hope we can raise awareness about the importance of gender equality and social diversity in our cities and public spaces to inform how we can improve our urban communities of today and plan for more equal cities of tomorrow,” added Frittoli.

Once the exhibition ends on 18th September, 10 pedestals will be moved to the Copenhagen Central Library or the Botanical Garden, while the others will be distributed in spots around the city, which are yet to be decided. BIG also teamed up with jewelry company Georg Jensen to create a necklace, that is meant to be a miniature version of the installation and gifted it to the queen.

The post BIG unveils a ’50 Queens’ installation which celebrates the female pioneers in Danish history first appeared on Yanko Design.

This sustainable floating education + innovation hub by BIG is an entire city in one building

Posted on by

The Bjarke Ingels Group or popularly known as BIG recently unveiled its plans for the Masterplan Esbjerg Strand – a campus environment and innovation hub that attempts to bring a new and fresh approach to education. This astounding structure will be surrounded by water and located in Jutland, Denmark. It will be nestled in the seaside town of Esbjerg, and is BIG’s attempt to recreate an entire city in one building! Are you as awestruck as we are?!

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

The geometrically intriguing structure will be elevated on a platform, seven meters above sea level, and can be accessed only via bridges. It will occupy 13,700 square meters and feature a roofscape that zig-zags around, as well as a central park. This impressive park will be protected from wind and noise. It will function as an oasis, creating an intriguing contrast between the peaceful campus, and the busy industrial harbor. The perimeter wall is quite a fascinating one, featuring angular white walls, that are accentuated with massive windows to provide stunning views of the park and the sea. The walls will artfully adjust around the irregular shape of the building, folding effortlessly around the central park, and then changing in height to form the roofscape.

You might find the shape, size, and layout of the structure quite irregular and eccentric. But BIG chose such a design to protect the building from the natural restraints on the site – such as extreme climatic conditions, turbulent waters, or even floods. In fact, the base of the structure has been raised by seven meters to provide protection against floods!

“The new masterplan is informed by present environmental parameters at the site: noise from the harbor, dominant westerly winds, high tides and storm surges, and sunlight,” the studio said.

Sustainability is also an important factor being incorporated into the construction of the campus. The entire site will be powered by renewable energy, and it will achieve 11 out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A beautiful green roof will also be added at the top of the building – which will feature a 1000-meter-long pathway.

“Education, development, and new communities will create the frame for a life, where the island with all its functions and possibilities works as a sustainable, human-made ecosystem in the middle of a city,” said the studio. “The vision for the project Masterplan Esbjerg Strand is to form the framework for a city and campus environment that will rethink the approach to education,” they also added.

The Masterplan Esbjerg Strand is truly a groundbreaking architectural proposal in these modern times. It perfectly encapsulates a site that not only paves the path for the progression of education and innovation – but manages to do so in a sustainable and eco-friendly environment.

The post This sustainable floating education + innovation hub by BIG is an entire city in one building first appeared on Yanko Design.

The world’s first floating city designed by BIG & backed by UN can withstand Category 5 hurricans!

Posted on by




OCEANIX, an ambitious floating architecture concept envisioned to be built off the South Korean coast by BIG – Bjarke Ingel‘s design group. It was first revealed in 2019 and now has received the green light from UN-Habitat and the Metropolitan City of Busan to begin construction. The futuristic sustainable city can also withstand category 5 hurricanes!

Given the rising sea levels, fast growing coastal cities have resorted to expanding into the ocean by creating new land using sand which causes harm to the existing marine ecosystem only to be partially submerged a few years later. BIG came up with a better solution with OCEANIX as it introduces a modular design system with net-zero energy that allows people to live sustainably and safely. The cities are made up of 2-hectare, 300-resident neighborhoods which then connect to form 1,650-person villages including systems like underwater farming and greenhouses to make it as self-sufficient as possible!

“Sustainable floating cities are a part of the arsenal of climate adaptation strategies available to us. Instead of fighting with water, let us learn to live in harmony with it. We look forward to developing climate adaptation and nature-based solutions through the floating city concept, and Busan is the ideal choice to deploy the prototype,” said Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN-Habitat Executive Director.

Inhabitants can easily walk around or take a boat to navigate between the floating communities which will include residences as well as a public square, art installations, marketplaces, sports clubs, schools, and more. It is also designed to be able to withstand natural disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. All structures will be under seven stories in height to create a low center of gravity, and platforms are built of locally sourced materials like fast-growing bamboo that has six times the tensile strength of steel, a negative carbon footprint, and can be grown in the neighborhoods themselves!

“9 out of 10 of the world’s largest cities will be exposed to rising seas by 2050. The sea is our fate – It may also be our future,” said BIG founder Bjarke Ingels who has time an again pushed the boundaries of architecture and design by bringing impossible concepts to life. OCEANIX is trailblazing a new industry with blue technologies that meet humanity’s shelter, energy, water and food needs without killing marine ecosystems. It is made to grow, adapt and tranform organically over time with humans and the climate while balancing the needs of both!

Designer: BIG

The post The world’s first floating city designed by BIG & backed by UN can withstand Category 5 hurricans! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This transforming robotic furniture descending from the ceiling to take your home from bedroom to living room!

Posted on by




‘The Smile,’ a new apartment complex in East Harlem designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) features smart furniture systems comprised of stow-away storage units, bed frames, workspaces, and wardrobes that rise into and fall from the ceiling on command.

Technology is changing the way we live in cities. Electric scooters and bullet trains are replacing city buses, while public spaces are relying on AI and smart technology for contactless services. In New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood, a new apartment complex called, ‘The Smile’ from BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) integrates a smart, modular furniture system from Bumblebee Spaces into each apartment to take full advantage of each living unit’s full cubic space.

Built around a grid that’s mounted to each unit’s ceiling, the modular furniture systems are comprised of storage cabinets and bed frames that rise and descend according to the changing needs of each resident. When a component of the system isn’t in use, it rises and disappears into the ceiling to enlargen the unit’s available living space. Then, when one is needed, the furniture system recognizes voice commands, remote controls, and programmed settings to initiate a component’s descent from the ceiling to the unit’s floor.

For example, after waking up in the morning, residents can command the bed to merge with the ceiling to conceal it from view. Then, in the same way, residents can instruct for modules like customized workspaces and drawers to lower down from the ceiling for access during the day. Crafted from wood, the furniture system brings a touch of comfort to each unit, giving the apartment’s industrial backdrop some organic warmth. Like a robotic housekeeper, Bumblebee’s furniture system also remembers where residents left certain pieces of furniture or smaller belongings so looking for your keys won’t keep you from getting a move on.

BIG’s ‘The Smile,’ located in New York City’s East Harlem currently features 163 market-rate and 70 affordable apartments, the latter group reserved for mid and low-income residents. While the furniture system, designed by former Tesla and Apple engineers, is currently only available in five units, the future of smart living is surely on its way to every city.

Designer: Bumblebee Spaces x BIG

Each module can be outfitted for specific purposes, from workspaces to wardrobes. 

Integrated organizational systems make each module easy to navigate. 

Residents can control their smart furniture system from their smartphones.

OPPO’s new “O” headquarters by Bjarke Ingels show how architecture + typography are a perfect match

Posted on by

In what could be an incredible branding move, OPPO’s new headquarter design will adorn the Hangzhou skyline with a massive O. Envisioned by Bjarke Ingels Group, the headquarters are described as an “infinity loop” shaped skyscraper that “connects [the] ground to sky in a continuous loop of collaboration”.

The larger-than-life O-Tower is representative of OPPO‘s status as China’s largest smartphone manufacturer. The upper and lower surfaces of the O remain flattened, creating what feels like a möbius strip that represents Oppo’s infinite potential and innovative spirit.

The O-Tower will be located in Hangzhou’s Future Sci-Tech City, within the Zhejiang province of China. Its purpose will be to primarily serve as an R&D building for the smartphone company while acting as an “iconic landmark and gateway” to the business district.

The O-Tower lights up after sundown, creating a magnificent letter-O in Hangzhou’s skyline at night. Not only does it serve as an iconic landmark within the city, but it also helps reinforce Oppo’s brand through the incredible architecture.

Meanwhile, the front and the top view look equally stunning in the day, creating a rather memorable piece of architecture that’s both iconic and awe-inspiring. The tower is expected to be built alongside a natural lake and a 10,000 square-meter park.

The O-Tower creates a pretty stunning entrance into the building as you walk right through the alphabet into a large circular courtyard populated with greenery. “The central oasis and the surrounding [Hangzhou] wetland park expands the public realm into the heart of the complex,” explained Bjarke Ingels, founder of the Denmark-based architecture studio BIG.

“The compact form folding in on itself provides large flexible floorplates with the daylight access and fresh air of a slender tower”, says Ingels. The O-Tower’s lower floors will contain exhibition spaces, conference areas, and a canteen, while the offices located on the floors above will be joined with a series of triple-height spaces under the sloping facade of the tower’s roof. On the outside, the building will be wrapped in an adaptive louvre facade, featuring slanted slats that almost look like the building has fingerprints. These facades, however, will play an important role in minimizing solar glare. “The adaptive louvered facade omits incoming solar glare and thermal heat gain, enhancing the passive performance of the building”, says Ingels, who’s studio BIG began working with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer at the beginning of 2019 to envision the R&D Building’s design and master plan.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) for OPPO

This lillypad-inspired floating sustainable city was designed to support emission free transportation

Posted on by

Bjarke Ingels has always pushed the boundaries and turned ambitious concepts into a reality. What I love about his work that he always incorporates sustainability into his architectural structures while moving ahead with the times – Ingels shows us time and again that the future is green. BiodiverCity is one of his most recent projects, it is a city of three islands connected by autonomous vehicles for land, water, and air to make this a transport emission-free habitat off the coast of Malaysia.

Three islands will be built in Penang and will serve as cultural, business, and residential hubs. The most striking thing about the development is that all the transportation on the 4,500 acres will consist of autonomous boats, vehicles, and air travel, making the islands car-free and pedestrian-friendly. Construction is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions, in fact, even more than the aviation industry. So to reduce the impact on the environment, most buildings will be prefabricated or 3D printed on-site and others will use a combination of bamboo, Malaysian timber, and “green concrete” which is made from recycled materials like aggregate.

The commercial build is still in progress, but will eventually consist of three islands — the Channels, Mangroves, and Laguna. These will include about 2.86 miles of beaches, 600 acres of parks, and 15.53 miles of waterfront. Previous land developments in Penang have disturbed the local habitats and coastal areas, so to make amends and solve this looming issue, BiodiverCity will be designed as connected “urban lilypads” and all islands will be able to harness resources locally. The Mangroves honor the wetlands (and of course, the mangroves) and will be made for business and events with a special space called Bamboo Beacon to host conferences or concerts. Lastly, the Laguna will be a cluster of eight small islands built around a marina and this is where people can live in houses that float, are stilted, or terraced. The three islands will be made up of different “districts” that will altogether house 15,000 to 16,000 people on 50 to 500 acres of land.

BiodiverCity will be planned to be a sustainable city where people and nature not only co-exist but thrive. There will be “buffers” between 50 to 100 meters that will surround each district in order to form a harmonious relationship between the people, the land, and the wildlife – think of these buffers as architectural glues for the new ecosystem. To keep native animals safe in spots that are being inhabited by humans, the builders will also include canopies, waterways, and boardwalks. In line with this strong green approach, there will also be green roofs and open spaces to create a symbiotic relationship between people and nature. “We are literally embarking on a journey to create more of Malaysia for future generations. We have decided to set the bar as high as humanly possible by imagining a new archipelago that aims to be both more culturally and biologically diverse than previous developments.” said firm founder Bjarke Ingels. The islands will be built in collaboration with other private companies like Hijjas, Knight Frank, and Ernst and Young.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

BiodiverCity is a part of the Penang2030 initiative that focuses on sustainable living while improving the state’s quality of life, level of income, and participation from citizens.

The islands will be integrated with a SMART grid that provides residents with live data detailing waste and energy consumption – this will help the community to make informed sustainability-related decisions.

The Channels will have a 500-acre digital park for researchers, educators, families, and businesspeople with virtual reality and robotics that will be the new norm in future cities.

“Our masterplan proposal, BiodiverCity, supports the Penang2030 vision with a clear focus on livability, on stimulating a socially and economically inclusive development, and on environmental sustainability for future generations,” said BIG.

“If Penang is defined by its rich cultural diversity and its abundant biodiversity, we would like to envision the Penang South islands as an archipelago where the two can coexist in a human-made ecosystem, expanding and enhancing one another,” said BIG founder Bjarke Ingels.