#1 The Danish dwelling in-between permanent and changeable conditions

Introduction
Since the 1980’s, urban life has experienced a renaissance, and among builders and planners, there has been an increased interest in multistory housing in Denmark. The considerations for sustainability also support the ideals inherent in the compact city. The welfare society’s ideals concerning the “sound dwelling” have left distinctive traces throughout the city. A versatile supply of housing has been the main goal, and housing policies have been characterized by the goal of everyone having access to sound homes. The extensive urban renewal in the harbour areas of Copenhagen offers a breeding ground for experimentation with a number of new and more open housing types, where future users can be involved in the design of their homes. In this way there is an increased focus on how to design the basic framework of the apartment. Yet another issue of importance is how those dwellings will be ‘completed’ by the inhabitance of the users. When the dwellings are completed, are they still suitable for other conditions of life? Is it possible to maintain the architectural quality and create at the same time greater possibilities for individual development and influence? These issues are researched in the project: Dwellings Suitable for Changing Life Situations. However, these ‘unfinished’ dwellings will get their own life. The designer will not any more be able to control what the users will do with their ‘work’. In the case of VM-Husene, this was just the one of the targets of the project. The architects created apartments with odd and unusual spatiality and expected new ways of inhabitation, from which at the same time the architects could learn. This process-like approach is far different from the earlier attitude of the functionalists. Many of the projects mentioned in this article are researched in the project: Dwellings Suitable for Changing Life Conditions. The project is carried out at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture, Copenhagen, 2005-2007. The research project is connected to The Center of Welfare and Housing, Copenhagen University and supported by the Realdania Foundation. Researchers: Peder Duelund Mortensen, Helen G. Welling, Margit Livø and Lene Wiell Mortensen. Bjarke Ingels and Julien de Smedt from the firm PLOT

Content #1
Introduction
THE DANISH DWELLING:in between permanent and changeable conditions
Dr. Helen G.Welling & Dr. Bernard Leupen

Nordlyset
Residential Block on America Plads
CF MØLLER, partnerarchitec tLONE WIGGERS
By Lone Wiggers, Dr. Bernard Leupen (ed)

ÆBLELUNDEN
Affordable Housing in the Copenagen suburb of Gladsaxe
VANDKUNSTEN, JAN ALBRECHSTEN & SØREN NIELSEN
By Dr. Bernard Leupen

FLEXIBO
Amager, Copenhagen (1975) & Greve Strand by, Greve (1980)
VIGGO MØLLER-JENSEN, TYGEARNFRED & JØRN OLE SORENSEN (Fælles tegnestuen ApS)
By Dr. Hellen G. Welling

Jægersborg Water tower
Ørnegårdsvej 21, 2820 Gentofte
DORTE MANDRUP ARCHITECTS AsP
By Dr. Bernard Leupen

BOASE
Experimental Housing Project on an Open Space in Nørrebro
FORCE 4, CHRISTIAN F.W. DALSDORF & MAJA ASAA
By Dr. Bernard Leupen (ed)