Waterfront Cultural Center in Paper Island
The new Waterfront Cultural Center and harbor baths celebrate Copenhagen’s historic relationship with water, transforming it into a unifying element of landscape, architecture, and public space. The design offers a sensory experience shaped by reflections, steam, movement, and light.
As part of the Paper Island masterplan, the building adopts a pyramid-like roof profile that responds to the island’s character while establishing a distinct identity. With no single front, it remains open and welcoming from all directions. The terraced ground connects fluidly from indoor areas to the water’s edge, blurring boundaries between land and harbor.
Architecturally, cone-shaped volumes are pushed and pulled to create unique spatial atmospheres. Pools beneath skylit cones invite light and shadow play, while rooftop hot baths nestle in the “valleys” between these forms. A central inverted cone serves as a structural and circulation core.
The brick façade references Danish craftsmanship, using warm tones and fine texture to screen light and frame views. Perforated patterns allow the building to softly glow at night, reflecting on the water and marking the site as a new cultural landmark.
CREDITS
Architect: Kengo Kuma and Associates
Executive architects: Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects
Client: Ejendomsfonden Vandkulturhuset Papirøen
Year of completion: 2026
Size: 5.700m2
Team: Yuki Ikeguchi, Wai Yiu Man, Marc Moukarzel, Italo Mazzoleni, Asger Taarnberg, Jagoda Joanna Krawczyk
Collaborators: Cornelius Vöge ApS, Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma A/S, Niels Sigsgaard, MT Højgaard Danmark, KI Rådgivende Ingeniører ApS, COWI A/S Building East, Jesper Kongshaug
