© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

The new head offices of Sampension comprise two building volumes: an extruded angle and a rectan-gular “tube”.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

Indoors, these two building elements meet around a high, conical central space illuminat-ed by overhead roof-lighting. The head offices are located in Tuborg Syd, a new urban district bordering the waters of The Sound.The L-shaped wing is clad in grey-green granite, while the tube is clothed in copper which in time will mellow from black to the greenish shades of the granite. The copper cladding is in the form of slim cassettes, one storey in height. They are positioned alternately facing outward and inward, creating a striking relief effect on the facade.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

In front of the large areas of glass, the cassettes are designed as shutters. They are perforated and swivel vertically, providing optimum shade against the low winter sun from the west and east while at the same time affording a clear view.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

The entry to the building is by a circular swingdoor, positioned off-centre in a corner of the glass facade. The foyer is one storey high, producing an intimate, friendly ambience. From the foyer a stout granite staircase leads up to the atrium on the first floor. The atrium stretches to the gable of the building in a generous elliptical shape, at the same time reach-ing upwards through all the floors of the building. At ground-floor level there is a canteen and confer-ence and meeting centre, with access to terraces in the gable.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

Light colours dominate, and let the entire building vibrate in immaterial lightness. A piece of water-art made of optical fibres has several functions – it creates a transparent veal in front of the meeting rooms towards the atrium; it displays slowly changing colours; and drops of water runs down the finbres to be collected in a basin in the foyer – the water gives humidity to the indoor cli-mate and the trickling sound damps the sharp noises from the canteen.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.

© 3XN . Published on May 13, 2005.