Kroyers Plads Project, Copenhagen, 2003, Erick Van Egeraat

Erik Van Egeraat

Erick Van Egeraat was born on 27 April 1956 in Amsterdam. He graduated as an architect from the Technical University of Delft and was given honourable mention. After leaving university he co-founded Mecanoo, a company which was renowned for challenging designs. Since 1995, he has operated under a company after his own name, now called Designed by Erik Van Egeraat, with offices in London, Budapest, Rotterdam and Prague. He has won multiple international awards, notably the 2006 Budapest Award and the 2007 RIBA Award.

His work concentrates on the historic and cultural to produce buildings that are original and without nostalgic notions. His buildings respond to their natural surroundings but introduce a new sensorial experience, whilst complying to sustainable practice with a flexible, sensible and economic approach. His designs are considered efforts to produce timeless works whose lifeline extends well beyond the average. He creates interesting lines and shapes by manipulating geometry to create sculptures which are elegant, striking and in tune with their surroundings.

Text - http://www.erickvanegeraat.com/default.aspx# [accessed 18 August 2010] http://www.e-architect.co.uk/architects/erick_van_egeraat.htm [accessed 18 August 2010]
Image - http://archivum.epiteszforum.hu/epiteszek/s_egerat.jpg [accessed 18 August 2010]

Image - http://www.erickvanegeraat.com/rdata/docs/Housing%20Kroyers%20Plads%20Copenhagen_dbEvE_091113eng633937062799090089.pdf [accessed 18 August 2010]

Image - http://www.eikongraphia.com/wordpress/wp-content/7%20Projekt_KroeyersPlads.jpg [accessed 18 August 2010]

Image - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuGEBXW7hdk [accessed 18 August 2010]

Kroyers Plad

Erik Van Egeraat won first prize in the 2003 design competition for development of Kroyers Plad, however his designs were never to be realised after strong opposition from the local residents that at 55m the building was too high and its design was not in keeping with the surroundings and a more traditional building would be more appropriate. The original inspiration for the building came from the peaks of elves hats, important cultural icons of Denmark during the Christmas period. Comprising of six towers of varying heights, the steeply pitched roofs are typical of buildings found in Copenhagen. Stretched, exaggerated then twisted to create interesting formwork in which to contain 16,000 square meters of apartments and 6,750 square meters of retail space and parking, the views are maximised from almost every apartment. Natural materials of copper, terracotta, slate and stainless steel create a dimensional facade. Slats and louvres are used to deflect sunlight.

References:

http://www.erickvanegeraat.com/default.aspx# [accessed 18 August 2010]
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/architects/erick_van_egeraat.htm [accessed 18 August 2010]
hl=en&sl=da&u=http://www.fejlplacerede.dk/page.php%3FID%3D150&ei=qoBrTInlLo3WvQO2tsnYDw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDMQ7gEwBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Deric%2Bvan%2Begeraat,%2Bthe%2Bkroyers%2Bplads%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-ContextMenu%26rlz%3D1I7GGIE_en%26prmd%3Ddf [accessed 18 August 2010]

http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=58 [accessed 18 August 2010]