This project summarizes the architectural design of the Gersonsvej Youth Centre in Denmark. The three-sentence summary is: The Centre provides community facilities for young people in Hellerup, located between a busy road and railway tracks, requiring the building to adapt to the residential context while protecting users from traffic noise. A central hall is connected to three slender volumes with pitched roofs that twist and bend, resembling an outstretched hand, to embrace outdoor spaces and divide facilities among music, workshop, and cafe spaces. Daylighting and materials are used to create varied indoor environments for different functions.

1. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
GERSONSVEJ YOUTH CENTRE, DENMARK
CASE STUDY
AJAY S

2. PROJECT DETAILS
• Location: HELLERUP, DENMARK
• Architects: CEBRA, DORTHE MANDRUP
• Client : Gentofte Municipality
• Built up area : 2600 m²
• Total site area: 5,374.96 m² (approx.)
• Project year: 2008
• Structural Engineering: NCC CONSTRUCTION
A place for young people to be inspired and indulge their interests and
passions.

3. LOCATION
HELLERUP, COPENHAGEN,
DENMARK
The building is situated in a
residential area in a
northern suburb of
Copenhagen. The area
predominately consists of
large villas from the turn of
the century.
N
CLIMATE
The Hellerup lies on
11m above sea level.
In Hellerup, the
climate is warm and
temperate.
Highest temp:17.2°C
(July)
Lowest temp: 0.2 °C
(jan-feb)
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL

4. ACCESSIBILITY
• Site is in the Gersonsvej Road
• Connecting roads: Ahlmanns Alle
road, Aurehøjvej road
• Nearest railway station:610 m
away
• Nearest airport: 38km away
Thai Airways Copenhagen Airport
site
Connecting
roads
junctions
LEGEND
Modes of
access
N

5. SITE CONTEXT
school
school
Clothing store
Clothing store
The site is long and narrow- on one side bordering the
railroad and on the other a busy road- Gersonsvej - hence
there was a noise problem to be solved.
Residential area
Villas

6. • This is a large building in an
area dominated by smaller
single family houses. The
building provides a meeting
place and sporting facilities
for the local community on a
site enclosed between a main
road and an active railway
track. This location makes it
necessary to adapt the
building to the housing
context while protecting its
users from the traffic.

7. • Three slender building profiles with
pitched roofs are placed parallel to the
tracks.
• The traditional profiles refer to the
surrounding houses and the
horizontality of the volumes reflects
the direction of the traffic.
• At the north end of the plot, the three
profiles are pressed together tightly,
but as they move southwards they
start separating and twist and bend
out of shape. This shape has led to the
building being described as a flat hand
with three outspread fingers. To the
north, the palm of the hand contains
the multi-purpose hall whereas the
secondary functions, such as shops,
computer stations and music facilities,
are placed in the fingers.
• The building seems to embrace and
protect the green outdoor areas
emerging between the outspread
fingers.
N

8. • To express the complexity of the program under one roof, the building is shaped to the area with a form that morph
recreation and leisure in 3 connected houses.
• There is a dynamic synergy between the villas and throughout the house, where sports and leisure are directly
intertwined, both physically and mentally

9. VIEWS
The terminology of
the building
recognizes classical
domestic spaces
such as the entrance
hall, dining room,
atelier, living room,
terrace, garden and
attic.
Ground level activities
all have direct access to
the garden or court
yards.

10. C
O
N
C
E
P
T To get individual daylight
To maintain the same height

11. The complexity of the programme is expressed
through a morphing form that connects three
different houses.
Downscaling the centre to the surrounding
villas resulted in a natural division of the
facilities into four houses, joined by the
common sports facilities.

12. Ventilation
Sports villa
Café villa
Work shop
villa
Music villa

13. SITE PLAN
SITE PLAN
N

14. VEGETATION
• An old chestnut tree- characteristic for the site –
was preserved and incorporated in the garden.
• There are lot of bushes in the garden and trees are
closely planted in the two opposite parking
boundaries.
• The outdoor areas with large trees are included
into the overall complex. Building and landscape
interweave to create a series of outdoor pockets,
which serve as protected spaces.

15. CIRCULATION
N
The project’s “sports
section” and adjacent
activity spaces are
linked to the heart of the
building, a kind of
multifunctional living
room for play and social
activities. This space
also serves as entrance
to the fingers’ three
“villas”, which contain
music rooms, the atelier
with creative workshops
and the café/eating area
respectively.
GROUND FLOOR

16. FIRST FLOOR

17. MAIN ENTRANCE

18. MATERIALS
• stainless-steel
• Glass

19. CROSS
SECTION
THROUGH
VILLAS
SOUTH ELEVATION

20. CROSS SECTION
ELEVATION TOWARDS
GERSONSVEJ

21. Entry towards the loungeEntry towards dance hall

22. The use of color, light and surfaces, varying moods are emerging as a series of rooms.
Each is done with its own special character, specific technical, acoustic, material and surface related qualities
depending on their unique function.
INTERIORS

23. Built-in wall unit for
seating
View from the dance hall to
the railway lines.
The seating
space is
enhanced by
contrast colour

24. First floor
kitchen
Dining
Natural light
Computer labWorkroom
The wall painting enhances
the interior

25. The top-lit space of the roof hall feels
open and expansive

26. INFERENCE
• The concept was to merge it with the surrounding hence
downscaling of roof was done.
• Through the color, light and surfaces, varying moods are
emerging as a series of rooms.
• Greenery acts as a baffle.
• Shape of the building maintains perfect blend with the
surrounding.
• Since the site is noise polluted, noise reducing walls are
used in construction.
• Natural light is well implemented.
• Minimalistic design
Weaknesses
• The narrow stairs makes a feel of discomfort.
• Terrace area is too small.

27. THANK YOU