The Crystal - Sport and Culture House
  • Name

    The Crystal, Denmark

  • Type

  • Client

    Municipality of Copenhagen

Studies from the early 2000's concluded that Copenhagen S (Amager) is the sportiest area in the country - as the area with the highest number of citizens doing sports regularly. At the same time, it was an area with hardly any sports facilities available. The building of a new sports and culture house in 2006 helped change that. Nicknamed “The Crystal” in light of its semi-translucent membrane made of polycarbonate, this allows for inner light to escape into the dark Copenhagen night - meaning that today, The Crystal has become somewhat of a local landmark.

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Flexibility is a keyword in the construction of the Crystal. That and well…green! The inner landscape is green which creates a coherency that allows the various areas of the facility to seem visually and spatially connected – even when they are apart or separated by different levels.

The scheme's most pronounced feature, however, is the large translucent membrane that stretches between the sports arena and the four characteristic end walls of the neighbouring buildings. The Crystal's steel and timber structure is covered with opalescent polycarbonate panels with a low U-value. This translucent cover offers excellent daylight conditions and at night, ensures the structure resembles a glowing crystal.

The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The inner landscape is green which creates a coherency that allows the various areas of the facility to seem visually and spatially connected – even when they are apart or separated by different levels.
The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The crystal. Sport and Culture House
The crystal. Sport and Culture House