The Opera Pavilion - C.F. Møller
The Opera Pavilion - C.F. Møller

The Opera Pavilion

Opera-goers in Copenhagen no longer have to stand outside in the wind and rain when they take the water bus to and from performances. The architects and designers of C.F. Møller Architects have designed a new pavilion on the waterfront, right in front of the Opera House.

 

The circular pavilion can hold 200 people, and provides shelter from the changeable Danish weather both for visitors to the Opera House and for the daily commuters on Holmen.
The clear and simple idiom is emphasised by the geometrical shape and by the structure of the facades, which consist of two bands of copper. Between these stretches a glass facade which provides a 360-degree vista of the entire Copenhagen waterfront.
The roof has a gentle slope and is clad in copper, with a round skylight located asymmetrically. The pavilion thus presents a coherent and well-thought-out appearance with its fine roof - including when viewed from the Opera House foyer.
The pavilion provides a beautifully framed view of Copenhagen harbour, and a feeling of being in the middle of everything - on the border between land and water.
The Opera Pavilion - C.F. Møller

Sculptural bench

A specially-designed bench in oak and brass is mounted along the curved wall of the pavilion. Despite its high quality of detailing and materials, the bench is designed for industrial manufacture. It consists of just two different profiles, milled out of solid oak and attached to the wood-clad parapet.
You sit upright but comfortably on the bench, which helps the elderly and the disabled.
The circular shape of the bench turns the waiting people towards each other, inviting conversation and interaction.

The Opera Pavilion - C.F. Møller

Durable materials

In addition to aesthetic considerations, the pavilion's materials have also been selected for their durability, ease of maintenance and cleaning, and resistance to vandalism.
The copper, which in a few years' time will have acquired a verdigris patina, has been chosen to create an architectural link with the beautiful, protected control towers of the bridges of Knippelsbro, Langebro and Sjællandsbroen, and the characteristic copper roofs of the city. Copper ages beautifully and is resistant to the tough maritime environment.
Oak, which has been used for thousands of years for shipbuilding in Denmark, stands up well to the harsh salt water, and has been used in the bench, the floor and the ceiling.
The brass balusters, signs and railings will also patinate naturally in the harbour environment. All of the materials can cope with use.
The Opera Pavilion - C.F. Møller

Festive lighting

LED light sources have been exclusively used in the pavilion. LED lamps require much less maintenance than other light sources, and use less electricity.
In the evenings, the copper pavilion lights up in a way that signals a festive atmosphere, but also gives those waiting a feeling of security.

Accessible to all

The opera pavilion is accessible to all, be they young or old, disabled, visually impaired or users of assistive technology such as Zimmer frames, wheelchairs or electric scooters. Even when the water level in the harbour is low and the gangway is at its steepest, the transverse stainless steel rails inlaid into the oak planks will ensure that visitors do not slip.
The full, all-round visibility ensures that the people waiting can see the water bus long before it arrives, and thus have plenty of time to get ready.
The Opera Pavilion - C.F. Møller

Cases

 
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