Nord Architects A/S

Natural Science Center

Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects

NATURAL SCIENCE CENTER

NORD Architects

ARCHITECTS
Nord Architects

PHOTOGRAPHS
Adam Mørk

AREA
2560.0 m2

YEAR
2009

LOCATION
Bjerringbro, Denmark

Text description provided by architect.

Since the concrete dried last winter the Natural Science Center has attracted a lot of attention worldwide.

The Danish building situated in Bjerringbro far away from the capital Copenhagen has just been nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award.

Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects
Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects

- We are very happy to be nominated. It means a lot to us, says Morten Rask Gregersen partner in Nord Architects Copenhagen.

The Natural Science center is a building out of the ordinary. If you thought atriums spanning two floors were cool, think again. In the Natural Science Center all spaces are open and have views spanning several floors. The building itself is shaped as a cylinder with terraces, openings and cuts to explore and get lost in.

- The idea behind the Natural Science Center is to make young people interested in natural science and pursue a career within that field. Natural Science is about exploring and asking questions, so we wanted to design a building that made them do just that, says partner in Nord Architects Copenhagen Johannes Pedersen.

Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects
Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects

The building is designed with a sturdy interior to encourage experiments. If a future scientist needs to make a hole in the concrete floor to carry out his experiment, it is quite all right. The architects are okay with it. Despite the Natural Science Center’s iconic status, it is first and foremost a building designed to be used.

- We have made a clear distinction between the interior and the exterior. The interior is rough with concrete surfaces designed to be used, while the exterior has smooth surfaces made of glass profiles.

Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects
Natural Science Center
© NORD Architects

In this way the building is both an elegant icon for Bjerringbro and a place where young people can get their hands dirty doing all sorts of experiments, says Morten Rask Gregersen.


Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Natural Science Center
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Nord Architects A/S
T +45 3369 0908
Nord Architects A/S
Hejrevej 37, 2400 København, Denmark