CEBRA Aarhus

Youth Recreation & Culture Center

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

YOUTH RECREATION
& CULTURE CENTER

CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

ARCHITECTS
Cebra, Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter

AREA
2600.0 m2

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Copenhagen, Denmark

CATEGORY
Youth Center

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

Text description provided by architect.

The building is situated in a residential area in a northern suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark. The area predominately consists of large villas from the turn of the century.

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

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.

The program was a mixed use complex containing several different institutions both communities and individual users. Cross programming was developed through workshops and games with future users, adults as well as children.

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

The site is noise polluted in a degree demanding noise reducing walls to protect the outdoor play area. Elements such as a bunker and a transformer box were integrated in the landscape of green noise baffles surrounding the site.

An old chestnut tree- characteristic for the site - was preserved and incorporated in the garden.

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

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.

As interpretations of the surrounding villas, the design of the building basically downscales the large volume of the gym to the scale of the area.

- Sports villa
- Café villa
- Work shop villa
- Music villa

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

There is a dynamic synergy between the villas and throughout the house, where sports and leisure are directly intertwined, both physically and mentally.

The merge between indoors and outdoors was also in relation to this and an important feature for the users. Ground level activities all have direct access to the garden or court yards.

The terminology of the building recognizes classical domestic spaces such as the entrance hall, dining room, atelier, living room, terrace, garden and attic.

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

Through 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.

Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup

The ambition has been to create a hangout for children, who recall Pippi Long stockings famous "Villa Villakulla" more than just another institution.


Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Courtesy of CEBRA + Dorte Mandrup


Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center


Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center
Youth Recreation & Culture Center

Youth Recreation & Culture Center

CEBRA Aarhus
T +45 8730 3439
CEBRA Aarhus
Vesterbro Torv 3, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Dorte Mandrup A/S
T +45 33 937350
Dorte Mandrup A/S
Vesterbrogade 95A, 1620 København, Denmark