Interior and exterior
A staircase unites the apartments on the 4th with the 5th floor (loft level); some even with a 6th floor hems. These apartments have all doubled their size after the loft conversion and further gained a floor full of daylight close to the sky. With open look to kip and simply supported collar beams as the only reminiscence of the existing building at the attic level this trace has been kept as the only connecting part to the building below From outside a huge atelier window consisting of six VELUX roof windows has been added in the roof surface facing the courtyard, whereas the side facing the streets has been provided with a dormer with a French balcony.
Materials
Using only the best quality of guaranteed materials was a basic demand of the habitants; materials that would last at least 20 years. Using red roof tiles and zinc flashing were a clear demand from the municipality. Some places the roof has just been prepared for a future loft conversion, since not every habitant had the financial possibility or felt it was the right time to expand his apartment. In those matters the structure and preparation has been made, which means that isolation, roof and roof windows has been renovated and only the staircase and inner finish needs to be done. By doing this the overall rhythm and architecturally aesthetics and homogeneousity has been maintained/preserved.
Interior and exterior
A staircase unites the apartments on the 4th with the 5th floor (loft level); some even with a 6th floor hems. These apartments have all doubled their size after the loft conversion and further gained a floor full of daylight close to the sky. With open look to kip and simply supported collar beams as the only reminiscence of the existing building at the attic level this trace has been kept as the only connecting part to the building below From outside a huge atelier window consisting of six VELUX roof windows has been added in the roof surface facing the courtyard, whereas the side facing the streets has been provided with a dormer with a French balcony.
Materials
Using only the best quality of guaranteed materials was a basic demand of the habitants; materials that would last at least 20 years. Using red roof tiles and zinc flashing were a clear demand from the municipality. Some places the roof has just been prepared for a future loft conversion, since not every habitant had the financial possibility or felt it was the right time to expand his apartment. In those matters the structure and preparation has been made, which means that isolation, roof and roof windows has been renovated and only the staircase and inner finish needs to be done. By doing this the overall rhythm and architecturally aesthetics and homogeneousity has been maintained/preserved.
SBS Byfornyelse | Denmark | Photographer: Torben Eskerod
Loft Conversion in Copenhagen
Situation and historical background
The J0-J0 building complex situated at Nørrebro, a district of inner Copenhagen in Denmark, has got it’s name because of the letters - ‘JOJO’ - that forms the complex plan seen from above (two halves and two full buildings). The original neo-classical complex was designed as a part of a greater city plan in order to downsize the urgent need of housings creating cheap and quite modern apartments at that time of early the 1920ies. Since then the J0J0 building complex has become the largest union of co-operatives flats with 516 housings units and more than 56 stairways from street level.
Interior and exterior
A staircase unites the apartments on the 4th with the 5th floor (loft level); some even with a 6th floor hems. These apartments have all doubled their size after the loft conversion and further gained a floor full of daylight close to the sky. With open look to kip and simply supported collar beams as the only reminiscence of the existing building at the attic level this trace has been kept as the only connecting part to the building below From outside a huge atelier window consisting of six VELUX roof windows has been added in the roof surface facing the courtyard, whereas the side facing the streets has been provided with a dormer with a French balcony.
Materials
Using only the best quality of guaranteed materials was a basic demand of the habitants; materials that would last at least 20 years. Using red roof tiles and zinc flashing were a clear demand from the municipality. Some places the roof has just been prepared for a future loft conversion, since not every habitant had the financial possibility or felt it was the right time to expand his apartment. In those matters the structure and preparation has been made, which means that isolation, roof and roof windows has been renovated and only the staircase and inner finish needs to be done. By doing this the overall rhythm and architecturally aesthetics and homogeneousity has been maintained/preserved.
Concept
In early 2002 the habitants decided to start a huge renovation project, which first of all was pointed out to renovate the entire and very run-down roof surface. The renovation project soon turned out to be a brilliant possibility to transform the unused attic space into housing space in order to create more living space/apartments, getting closer to the view over Copenhagen at same time the roof was renovated and done weatherproof again. These dreams combined with practical matters as economical, legal and logistic control and security in roof construction methods (fireand dry/wet rot- protection) were essential keywords from the beginning of the conceptual process.
The result, a new roof with apartments, also reflects the directives from the commune. E.g. the rhythm and proportions of the roof windows band are placed in a united pattern/grid in architectural context with the building below.
Goals and collaboration
The design office, SBS Byfornyelse, was consulted from the beginning of the planning phase and has been an important sparring partner/consultant in the development of the new roof level (5th floor) and the entire renovation/conversion project through the years – from drawings to contact between client and building authorities at the municipality.
The habitants were willing to pay for and use qualified and experienced consultancy as a guarantee with no lack or compromises of the final quality and result also the fact that the habitants should live in their apartments under the entire renovation process also meant a lot for the planning. Since the habitants own the complex they can decide a lot of matters themselves.
Some decisions however must be made in close, individual contact with the municipality that protects the historic tale and values of old/existing buildings in Copenhagen and gives the final permission concerning roof shape, proportions and use of materials. Also VELUX Product and design-support participated in an early phase dialogue meeting with the habitants giving information about daylight- and design issues.
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