Pakhus 54

Cobe’s studio is located in a transformed warehouse known as Pakhus 54 in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn district. The former industrial space has been redesigned into a vibrant creative home, adding a new layer to the building’s history. Originally built without windows or natural light, Pakhus 54 has been opened up by replacing the former loading gates with large, floor-to-ceiling windows facing the harbor, filling the workspace with natural light.

The Nordhavn area of Copenhagen is a former industrial area with a long history as a free port and was for many years an important hub for trade in Copenhagen. Centrally positioned in Inner Nordhavn and closely connected to the water, the building once formed part of the area’s extensive port infrastructure. Goods from near and far were unloaded along the quays, stored in warehouses and silos - including Pakhus 54 - and transported onward.

We don’t see existing buildings as problems – we see them as potential. Our studio has always been based in places that have had other lives before us, each with its own narrative and character. At Pakhus 54, this mindset has guided the transformation, challenging us to find possibilities in what might seem impossible or overlooked. Rather than erasing the past, the project builds on it, allowing the warehouse’s history to remain present.

The warehouse’s robust and flexible structure has been barely touched. Existing walls remain raw, while new walls are built from brick blocks, echoing the original non-loadbearing partitions of the building. A small village of house-like structures at the center provides a variety of meeting spaces, a library, and shared facilities, leaving the space between them open for informal meetings, talks, and workshops. Every element is designed for future disassembly without altering the existing structure, ensuring that Pakhus 54 can continue to adapt to new needs and remain relevant for generations to come.