The Silo

For 50 years, the DLG Silo in Copenhagen’sl north harbor, Nordhavn, was used as an industrial storage container for grain. After the building was decommissioned, birds, mice, and graffiti artists gradually took over the abandoned structure, making it a beacon for urban explorers. After working with the planning of the harbor area, and having fought to preserve the silo for several years, Cobe established a collaboration with a visionary developer who could see the building’s unique potential. The strategy was to preserve and reuse the robust and rough concrete core of the structure by simply draping it in a precise prefabricated new “overcoat”, transforming the former industrial building into apartments.

The industrial buildings and structures of Nordhavn have played an essential role in the identity of the harbor. By retaining the identity and repurposing the robust durable concrete structures both heritage can be preserved and the CO2 footprint minimized.

The new facade is designed to relate to the original concrete structure, and to retain a clear continuity between new and old. A new layer of insulation is placed on the exterior to act as a climate screen.

The concrete spaces of the silo have been transformed into 38 unique apartments, ranging from 100 m2 to 400 m2 in size, and some with floor heights of up to 7 meters. The cut concrete is a characteristic detail in the interior of the apartments. All apartments have panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies. The window frames are hidden on the outside of the existing concrete walls, offering expansive views of the city skyline and the Oresund coast. The “hat” on top of the building is designed as a generous public restaurant and viewing platform. The glass facade mirrors the surroundings in the daytime, almost vanishing into the sky.