New build

Thymegarden

Social Housing in Havdrup, Denmark

“Vandkunsten is an architecture firm with opinions and attitude. We only design projects we believe in. But once the work is done, the architecture is not ours. It belongs to the community.“

Vandkunsten Architects

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Site Plan. Architect: Vandkunsten Architects

Timianhaven means a thyme garden in Danish, and is, in the words of Anne-Mette Manelius, company’s communication head, “a very common social housing project.” Denmark’s social housing sector is not only one of the biggest on the market – with 20% of country inhabitants living in such housing – but also an innovative one. Tennant-run housing cooperatives are planning long-term and sustainably, thus are valuable clients for architects seeking environment- and people-friendly projects done with simple means.

Forty-four housing units, a community room, gardens with sheds and parking occupy 3.710 sqm. As the land in Havdrup – 30 kilometres south of Copenhagen – is not expensive, above-average density has not been a requirement.So the meadows between the rows of houses are lush and generous. A community house is located on the northern corner of the site.

The size of the units varies between 42 and 105 sqm, with 35% of the units in the upper range.

All of the duplex apartments have a kitchen with a dining area downstairs; the position of the living room varies according to the unit type: in smaller ones it's tucked in the first floor, together with the bedrooms. One bathroom is standard, even for three-bedroom apartments. Located next to the main door, the bathroom defines the entry area and thanks to a thought-through design of niches – like that of the shower placed behind the wardrobe – contains all needed features without compromising spacial quality.

Architect: Vandkunsten Architects; Photo: Kirstine Mengel

Anne-Mette Manelius, Vandkunsten Architects

Architect

“Skylights enhance the quality of daylight in the room, contribute to the variation of the tonality, thus enriching the space. Also, the materials, especially exposed wooden walls, profit greatly from carefully curated daylight contrasts. Having a darker space next to a well-lit room enhances the experience of both.”

Social Housing in Havdrup, Denmark - Upper Floor Plan (Architect: Vandkunsten Architects)

Social Housing in Havdrup, Denmark - Section (Architect: Vandkunsten Architects)

Social Housing in Havdrup, Denmark - Detail Section (Architect: Vandkunsten Architects)

Architect: Vandkunsten Architects; Photo: Vandkunsten Architekten

Small apartments are located on the ground floor only, space above taken by the bedrooms of a bigger, adjacent unit. Some bedrooms are lit by one large VELUX window on the façade-like roof. Others feature an additional light source from a supplementary, smaller roof window placed above a light shaft, flush with the plastered exterior wall.

“Skylights are like little hats on a building; they are a fun way to add extra quality to tiny, rationally and economically thought interiors: they provide necessary daylight and ventilation, as well as instantly upgrade the appearance of rooms."

Architect: Vandkunsten Architects; Photo: Kirstine Mengel

Timianhaven is the first housing project in Denmark realized in cross-laminated timber technology (CLT).

As simple layouts, assembled in a straightforward row house configuration, the modules were primarily thought to be built as timber boxes. The idea to prefabricate entire units in wood was abandoned in favour of CLT construction, following the wishes of the client. It was also a premiere for the construction company: the experiment went well, paving the road to future cross-laminated timber constructions.

The cooperative-type investor, by statute obliged to build non-profit, was looking for a sustainable type of construction, ensuring low maintenance costs. Such attitude is much in line with the philosophy of Vandkunsten.

Project data

Project: Social housing and community house
Location: Havdrup, Solrød
Architect: Vandkunsten Architects
Year: 2017-2018
Photos: Kirstine Mengel, Vandkunsten Architects (construction site, interior)
Client: Boligselskabet Domea Solrød

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