Two public faces
Sundholm association centre
B.W. Jonker (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
H.J. Bultstra – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)
A.M.F. van Dam – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)
H.F. Eckardt – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
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Abstract
The Public Condenser marks a pivotal step in challenging the negative narrative surrounding social life in Sundholm. Known for its history of marginalized groups facing barriers to public participation, the neighborhood calls for an architectural intervention that actively encourages social interaction among strangers. This project introduces a public program and design that foster spontaneous encounters and community engagement.
The Public Condenser aims to shift both the perception and behavior associated with Sundholm. At the heart of the design is the transformation of a former boundary, once defined by fences, barriers, and both physical and ideological separations between people and the institutional fabric of the area. By reimagining the entrance around a former gatehouse, the project makes the neighborhood more open and inviting to passersby, dismantling previous divisions.
Crucially, the Public Condenser is conceived as an extension of the existing Sundholm House 8. Currently used by NGOs and the municipality as a meeting and workspace bridging municipal functions and the southern part of Copenhagen, the addition brings new spatial capacity and renewed public identity to the site. Through its scale and civic character, the extension elevates the status of these important functions.
The interior design is grounded in the principles of both literal and phenomenal transparency. Promoting a visual and spatial continuity between interior and exterior environments. Constructed with timber cross-beams and Y-shaped columns, the architecture supports a fluid spatial experience. Staircases double as social meeting points, allowing different spaces to connect without requiring formal circulation. In doing so, the project unifies two aims: enabling genuine social inclusion while also creating moments of social attraction, together forming the singular purpose of the Public Condenser.