Parking House + Konditaget Lüders | JAJA Architects

Konditaget Lüders aka. "PARK'N'PLAY" is a hybrid structure between parking house and playground. It rethinks the monofunctional parking house and transforms what is often an infrastructural necessity into a public amenity. Located on the rooftop – 24 meters above ground – it provides a recreational area and a view of the horizon, often only for the privileged few.

Instead of concealing the parking structure, the architecture enhances the beauty of the structural grid and breaks up the scale of the large building volume. A system of planters is hung in a rhythm that is informed by the grid, which introduces a new scale and distributes the greenery across the entire façade. This grid of planters on the facade is penetrated by two large public stairs that extend up to the roof. The handrailing along these two stairs continue past the staircase and onto the rooftop to become a fantastic playground. From being mere railing, it transforms into swings, crossfit equipment, jungle gyms and more. From the street level, the railing literally takes the visitors by the hand and invites them on a trip to the rooftop landscape, overlooking the amazing Copenhagen Harbor.

SITE
Konditaget Lüders is in Aarhusgadekvarteret, which is part of the first phase of the Nordhavn masterplan. The area is known as the “red neighbourhood” because of the characteristic red brick buildings along the harbor. The warm, red tint of Konditaget Lüders is adopted from the history of the site and gives an identity to the otherwise generic concrete elements

FACADE
Instead of hiding the parking house structure, the grid is accentuated. A system of planters is hung in a pattern informed by the grid, celebrating the structure rather than masking it. These planters give the façade a rhythm, introduce a sense of scale to the building, and distribute greenery across the façade.

TALES FROM THE HARBOR
The frieze depicts historic tales from the harbor. It pictures its development, significant buildings and structures, activities and other transformative events that have shaped the history of Nordhavnen. The frieze is designed and illustrated by Rama Studio.

THE RED THREAD
Conceived as one continuous a red thread, the handrail leads people from street, up past the green façade and to the rooftop public space. It literally takes people by the hand and invites them up for a view of the city skyline. Here, it transforms from handrail to a sculptural installation that offers a palette of recreational activity. From swings, trampolines, jungle gyms, crossfit equipment, monkey bars and more, it attracts playful and athletic children, adults and elderly.

Collaborators: Totalentreprenør 5e byg, Søren Jensen Ingeniører, LOA, DGI, Rama Studio