The Danish capital, Copenhagen, pledges to become the world’s first carbon-neutral city by 2025, and with the much anticipated CopenHill having opened up, we can see the city hurtling towards its goal. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), CopenHill is an intriguing mesh of a waste-to-energy power plant, a ski slope, hiking and running trail, and a section of lush greenery right in the middle of bustling Copenhagen.
Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group, SLA, AKT, Lüchinger+Meyer, MOE, and Rambøll
Created using glass and stacked aluminum bricks, the structure has a futuristic and sleek appeal to it. However, the steam-ring generator that was a part of the initial plans, had to be skipped, but could be a future addition!
A 1480-foot artificial slope, which is quite interestingly green in color, is a major attraction. Ski lifts and a glass elevator provide access to it. The slope has different levels of difficulty, for the diverse leagues of skiers. So you can have your pick, with the bottom green level for beginners, blue for intermediates, and red for the experienced and the seasoned! A freestyle park and slalom course are included!
Measuring at 278 feet, CopenHill also showcases the world’s tallest climbing wall, plus a cross-fit area and trail for hiking and running. There’s a rooftop bar you can hit for some drinks and food!
Home to 7000 bushes, 300 pine and willows trees, plus other varieties of nature, CopenHill bears a beautiful connection to nature.
“Beneath the slopes, whirring furnaces, steam, and turbines convert 440,000 tons of waste annually into enough clean energy to deliver electricity and district heating for 150,000 homes,” explains BIG. “The necessities of the power plant to complete this task, from ventilation shafts to air-intakes, help create the varied topography of a mountain; a man-made landscape created in the encounter between the needs from below and the desires from above.”
CopenHill is the perfect example of merging architecture and sustainability to create a vibrant urban structure that meets several needs. CopenHill is expected to be a major tourist attraction, with people from all over the world hitting a waste incinerator that also happens to be a fun ski park!
