BLOX: A Provocation on the Waterfront

Fans call BLOX a must-see and love the many different activities the building has to offer. Opponents call it a disgrace and a real eyesore.

The architects from Dutch firm OMA are not afraid to provoke, and with BLOX they have attracted a lot of attention and lit a fire under the public debate.  The bottle-green building with its many stacked boxes rouses the passions of fans and haters alike. But regardless of how you feel about BLOX, one thing is certain, the building has breathed new life into an otherwise desolate part of the city.

The structure of stacked boxes resembles the shipping containers that once lined the waterfront, while the facade’s green hues reflect the harbor waters and pay tribute to Copenhagen’s copper-clad towers.

City and Harbor United

BLOX was built both over and under a vital traffic artery that passes through the building. Pedestrians can move through the building via a passageway under the road, which makes it possible to walk from the city to the waterfront and jump in the harbor without having to cross the busy road.
From the café in the Danish Architecture Center, at the top of BLOX, you get a fantastic view of the entire inner harbor and central Copenhagen.

Vibrant Meeting Place

With BLOX, Realdania wanted to create a meeting place for both Copenhageners and tourists – as well as a hub for urban development. In addition to the exhibitions at Danish Architecture Center, BLOX is also home to Danish Design Center and BLOXHUB – a co-working space for startups, established companies and organizations working within sustainable urban development. The building also features private residences, a design shop, a playground, cafés, and a gym.

Near BLOX

Danish Architecture Center and BLOX are both part of Copenhagen Cultural District, which offers a wide range of cultural experiences in the heart of Copenhagen. From here, there is quick and easy access by foot to The Black Diamond, The National Museum of Denmark, Tivoli Gardens, and Christiansborg Palace, just to name a few. If you want to explore the rest of the city’s architecture, Danish Architecture Center offers guided tours to the most interesting neighborhoods. You can also download DAC’s architecture app and explore the city’s architecture on your own.