Tired of being a grown up? Copenhagen’s KU.BE by MVRDV and ADEPT is a new type of community centre based around play, incorporating a mix of disparate building types into one, from library to cooking school and gym to theatre. And we love it.
Visitors to KU.BE, the new community centre in Copenhagen’s Frederiksberg district, could take the stairs, but the climbing walls, slides and rope ladders are a much more fun way to move around – and they are definitely not only for kids. A collaboration between Dutch studio MVRDV and Danish architects ADEPT, KU.BE incorporates a mix of disparate building types into one, from library to cooking school and gym to theatre, all with the aim of bringing out the inner child in even the most sensible of visitors to encourage an active lifestyle. “The idea was not just to make a culture house, but to create a whole new typology that hasn’t been seen before,” says Martin Krogh, co-founder of ADEPT.
Instead of traditional floorplans the building has six zones each designed for a very specific purpose, from cooking to sports to meditation. To get from one zone to another, visitors navigate the PlayZone. The irregular space, formed where the various zones meet, has been filled with all manner of unconventional elements that seem more suited to a playground than a community centre.
“It is a beautiful idea, and I hope it can operate in reality,” says van Rijs. “I want people to see it and think it’s cool and want to do something similar in their space.”
“The idea was not just to make a culture house, but to create a whole new typology that hasn’t been seen before,” says Martin Krogh, ADEPT.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
A visit to Copenhagen is not complete without popping by the Gubi showroom to experience the brand ‘at home’ – and what a place to explore and enjoy!
Plus Architecture’s Patric Przeradzki offers four key takeaways from the Scandinavian housing model. Przeradzki argues they can be applied in Australia to work towards healthier, safer and more cohesive residential communities.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Eccentricity and refinement blend at Giant Steps Wines’ new Tasting Room – a picture-perfect place for guests to wine down.
Nazcaa boasts a statement design for a singular restaurant and it’s right at home on the Dubai hospitality scene.