Industrial - and Welfare Architecture

16 kilometres bike ride

Industrial- & Welfare Architecture

Nordvest is vibrant and rich in history. Around Grundtvig's Church, the city is well-planned with park developments of high architectural quality and sightlines to the church. The low-rise apartment buildings with green areas in Fuglekvarteret are shaped by ideals from the English garden cities, and along Rentemestervej, the traces of the old industrial district are clearly visible.

Get more experiences by adding stories from Copenhagen Local Walks og Copenhagen Architecture Guide. 

Photographer
Copenhagen Visitor Service
GPS navigation

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Experiences along the route

Photographer
Freja Bonde

The LIBRARY

The architecture of the LIBRARY, created in 2011 by COBE, is known for its stacked "books" in gold, which make the building sparkle at the top of Rentemestervej and thus stand out from the industrial buildings which otherwise characterise the area.
Photographer
Freja Bonde

Gadegalleriet

Gaze up at the 16 colourful gables on Møntmestervej and Rentemestervej, where passers-by can experience 2000 square meters of world-class street art every day around the clock. The street gallery exhibits both local and international artists.
Photographer
Emma Methner Olsen

Sokkelundlille

Sokkelundlille was built in the 1890s by merchant Ludwig Emilius Thrane. He built it on the site of a burnt down hunting lodge from 1770. It is said to have belonged to King Christian the 7th. The house functions as a culture house for children.
Photographer
Thomas Høyrup Christensen

Bispebjerg Cemetery

The blossoming cherry trees in April, the meticulously planted poplar trees along the wide avenues and a myriad of pathways makes this well-maintained cemetery worthy of a stroll.
Photographer
Emma Methner Olsen

The Studio Houses

The Studio Houses were designed by Viggo Møller-Jensen and built in the years 1942–1943. The 21 terraced houses are beautifully located next to a small lake. All the residences have their own studio and are intended for creative artists.
Photographer
Emma Methner Olsen

Grundtvig's Church

Grundtvig's Church stands tall over the surrounding low-rise buildings emphasising its grand dimensions and status as an iconic landmark in the neighbourhood. Learn more about the history of the church in Copenhagen Architecture Guide.
Photographer
Freja Bonde

Dansekapellet

Built in 1908, the chapel used to be the last stop for the deceased. Today, however, it houses the dancing. The beautifully restored dance chapel brings life to the neighbourhood and attracts performers and audiences from near and far.
Photographer
Freja Bonde

Kolumbariet

The Columbarium is the hidden gem of the cemetery. A beautiful building, where meticulously decorated urns with cremated remains from the deceased are stored and displayed in niches.
Photographer
Signe Nors

Bispeparken - velfærdsarkitektur

Build in 1941, Bispeparken offered an alternative to the inner city slum. Here, the working class were offered balconies and access to green areas. According to The Cultural Heritage Board, this housing area is one of Denmark's finest park buildings.

Bispebjerg Bakke

The artist Bjørn Nørgaard designed this experimental construction of rental apartments manually. The building known as “the snake” brings together art, architecture and ambitious craftsmanship.
Emma Methner Olsen

Lersøparken

The 100-year-old park offers an open green space and a view of the city skyline. The park is surrounded by small quiet oases: The hospital's healing gardens, school gardens, permaculture gardens and a secret sculpture pak hidden behind vegetation.
Photographer
Martin Auchenberg

Dortheavej

This is a reinterpretation of the concept of social housing. Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is the mastermind behind the 65 family homes. These homes are built to provide functional quality housing for regular families with children.
Photographer
Vegar Moen

Sjakket

Sjakket is based in the double-curved, former industrial building on Skaffervej, offering space for activities for vulnerable children and young people in the neighbourhood.
Photographer
Freja Bonde

Kampsportens hus and Lygten Station Kulturhus

Kampsportens Hus is a new training facility designed by entasis, where you can practice martial arts. Just opposite, you will find the former Lygten Station, which today functions as a culture house.
Photographer
Emma Methner Olsen

Engelsk Havestil

The scenery changes completely around Nattergalevej and Rørsangervej. Here, the streets follow a strict grid with beautiful housing, green front gardens and street trees. An oasis in the hectic city.

Café Fuglereden

Local pub with a dramatic history - was slated for demolition but later saved after local protests. Fuglereden is housed in a building from the late 1800s and is one of the few remaining examples of the style of building back then.
Photographer
Freja Bonde

Rentemestervej

Rentemestervej is the center of Nordvest's industrial history. Though the old factories have shut down by now, the street is still full of life buzzing with creative businesses, old workshops, and progressive local initiatives.
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