Tactile wooden interior complementary to the cool aluminum exterior
COBE + DISSING+WEITLING architecture
Køge Nord Station was officially opened by Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark on May 31, 2019. The event marked the opening of the new gateway to Copenhagen, which provides more efficient and sustainable transport options for those traveling to and from the nation’s capital.
For Køge and the rest of the region, the new project also introduces a new international landmark: a 225-meter-long footbridge that connects the new double-track high-speed rail line between Copenhagen and Ringsted with the existing commuter urban-suburban S-train line above the Køge Bugt Highway.
“The striking futuristic design is apt for an area that is currently undergoing significant transformation, and the bridge will act as a catalyst for growth and development in Køge in the coming years”, says Dan Stubbergaard, architect and founder of COBE.
The station architecture and technical design promote a ‘good travel experience’, where the form of the covered bridge offers an open view to the north, while smaller apertures in the interior wood panels toward the south, provide both expansive and intimate views. This design creates a pleasant flow for foot traffic while offering zones for pausing and reflection.
“People spend many hours of their lives in transit. That’s why we sought to give the footbridge a quality that goes beyond the purely functional and practical”, says Jesper B. Henriksen, architect and partner at DISSING+WEITLING architecture.
The interior of the footbridge is lined with wooden slats that provide a warm, tactile experience for travelers in transit and during waiting periods. This welcoming and inviting space contrasts the cold, smooth aluminum exterior, which engages in a dialogue with the surrounding infrastructure.
“As a result, we can now enjoy an architectural beacon capable of branding the region and demonstrating the capability of Danish architects and engineers. The bridge has ‘postcard potential’, but the main point is the effect and the influence the project will have on so many people’s everyday lives”, Henriksen concludes.
Project: Køge Nord Station / Location: Copenhagen, Denmark / Architects: COBE and DISSING+WEITLING architecture / Consulting engineer: COWI / Contractor: Bladt Industries / Client: Banedanmark, Køge Municipality and DSB (Danish State Railways) / Covered footbridge: 225m long, 9m wide / Total weight (including elevators and escalators): 1,000 metric tons / Competition: 2014 / Opening: 2019.5 / Photograph: ©Rasmus Hjortshøj – COAST (courtesy of the architect)
