The project involves a comprehensive renovation of the existing lighting as well as the installation of new light fixtures in all courtyards within the University Quadrangle. It is a very unique project area, a kind of hidden city within the city. The Quadrangle constitutes a very special cultural environment. It houses some of Copenhagen's oldest and most well-known buildings, such as the Main University Building, the University Library, and the Museum House. These are a series of delicate and very beautiful spaces with significant architectural and cultural-historical value. At the same time, these courtyards are surrounded by various buildings constructed over a long period. The oldest is the Consistory Building from the 15th century, considered to be Copenhagen's oldest secular building, and the newest is the Magazine Building from 1907. All the buildings in the Quadrangle are listed, except for the Magazine Building, which is worthy of preservation.
Client: København Universitet
Type: Restoration
Year: 2023
Architect: Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter A/S
Over the years, the individual buildings have housed the Zoological Museum, the University Library, professors' residences, classrooms, etc., but today they serve exclusively as workplaces for the Central Administration at the University of Copenhagen. The existing lighting in the courtyards consisted solely of wall lamps. As a result, the lighting experience was very uniform and highly contrasting. Additionally, daily users had expressed that the area felt dark, unsafe, and difficult to navigate during the evening hours.
One of the primary objectives of the lighting project was to find a calm lighting solution that could support the existing lighting motif without overpowering it
Fixture development process sketches
Illustrations of light layers
Another important goal was to create a distinct nighttime identity for the place, binding the various courtyards and buildings together into an atmospheric whole. We wanted to transform the courtyards from the 'backsides of the buildings' into a kind of small village within the city. Finally, it should be mentioned that the project has placed special focus, both from us as lighting designers and from the client, on only adding the necessary components to ensure that the courtyards appear beautiful both during the day and at night.
