Vol.02
A New Experimental Headquarters Packed with BIG's Ideals
NEW BIG's HQ
In the fall of 2023, BIG completed its new headquarters at the tip of a Copenhagen pier. The building is the first example of BIG handling everything in-house, from architectural design to product design and landscaping. Every detail, from the door handles to energy efficiency, embodies BIG's ideals.
A "Work of Architecture" in the Port of Copenhagen
BIG's new headquarters, located in the Nordhavn harbor district of Copenhagen, was completed last year after a two-year construction period. The seven-story building, made of almost equal parts concrete and glass, features iron stairs zigzagging through the floors. With an open structure devoid of partitions, a single stone pillar composed of eight different types of stone including granite and marble runs through the center of the space. Bjarke Ingels explains, "For example, product design is an extension of our architecture. By not choosing from ready-made products but completing everything in-house down to the smallest details, we can pursue our ideals." In this headquarters, many elements, from door handles to lighting and furniture, are designed by BIG. To ensure that every aspect of their vision is realized without deviation, BIG has an internal, diverse team called "BIG LEAP," which stands for Landscape, Engineering, Architecture, Planning, and Product Design, aiming to handle everything related to architecture in-house.
To the left of the entrance, the word "BIG" is inscribed in Morse code.
As you pass through the entrance, a large atrium opens up before you. Light pours in from all directions, making it bright and spacious.
Creating a Single Space with a Layered Design
Given the small site at the end of the pier, the challenge was to secure sufficient space for the headquarters by dividing it into at least four levels. The previous headquarters was a large, single-floor space in a former brewery. The challenge was creating an environment in the new headquarters where all staff could feel they were in one space. After careful consideration, the design was realized by halving each floor and doubling the layers, with a large atrium connecting every floor. Solar and geothermal energy systems were incorporated to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy. The concrete used is a new type called UNI-GREEN, jointly developed by BIG and Unicon. It reduces CO2 emissions by about 25%, demonstrating a thorough commitment to sustainability. The building is surrounded by the sea, allowing light to enter from all angles. No matter where you are inside, you can feel the sun's movement throughout the day. The design efficiently captures sunlight and heat, connecting people indoors to nature. Additionally, the landscape team transformed the tip of the pier from a former parking lot into a public park. Trees such as pines and oaks were planted on the north side as windbreaks, while the south side features plants and rocks to support habitats for insects and biodiversity.
The cafeteria on the first floor features colorful chairs by the Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen.
The cafeteria is operated by the locally popular seafood restaurant Kødbyens Fiskebar, which focuses on locally sourced produce. The space serves as a staff canteen during the day and opens to the public in the evenings (starting summer, 2024).
Bjarke's favorite view from the office. A wind farm in the sea near the border with Sweden.
BIG Offices Spread Across Eight Cities Worldwide
The Copenhagen office was established in 2005. Today BIG has offices in eight cities around the world. The New York office was opened in 2010, prompted by a project in the city, followed by the Barcelona office, a city that holds sentimental value for Bjarke from his student days. The offices in Los Angeles, London, Oslo, Zurich, and Shenzhen were initially temporary setups for local projects, but they organically grew over time. Each office has a general area of responsibility: Copenhagen mainly covers Europe, New York handles North and South America, Barcelona oversees Southern Europe, and London focuses on the Middle East due to the high number of Middle Eastern company headquarters. However, there are no strict rules, as seen with the NOT A HOTEL SETOUCHI project being managed by the London office instead of Shenzhen, which has a smaller time difference with Japan.
The word "big" appears to float on the wall, created as part of the "Alphabet of Light" series by the design firm BIG in collaboration with the lighting company Artemide.
The meeting room is illuminated by Stellar Nebula lighting, designed by BIG.
Similarly, the La Linea lighting was also designed by BIG.
STAFF
EDIT・TEXT
TRANSLATION
PHOTO
Sanae Sato
Jeremy Kuhles
Laurian Ghinitoiu, Maya Matsuura
