Framehouse

Outstanding flexible two-storey office building with exposed wooden structure

The location is quite humble – a business park just south of Copenhagen Airport, and 12 km from the city centre.  A group of large, repurposed hangars can be found here, and now with a new and masterful addition: a visionary project – called ‘Framehouse’ – which was shortlisted for Denmark’s Office Building of the Year 2020 Award.

Framehouse is a newly constructed serviced offices building comprising three parallel sections that perfectly ties in with its surroundings. From the outside, it is a relatively anonymous project with raw aluminium facades, lines of windows along its length and glass with wooden glazing bars in the gables. The entire building is beautifully proportioned and executed with sharp precision so it exudes quality. It can accommodate 120 employees/users.

Wooded interior

The central section is the heart of Framehouse. It is slightly set back relative to the adjoining sections, forming a natural entrance area. It houses the reception desk, meeting rooms and the canteen. On stepping into the foyer, you immediately appreciate the high level of ambition behind the realisation of the building.

Wood is the all-dominant material, and the unconventional office environment is characterised by its unusually high standard of architecture. It’s like stepping directly into a forest with soaring tree trunks bathed in light. In every direction, you notice stunning new angles and smart details. There is very good contact between the two levels, and the atmosphere is homely – reminiscent of an exclusive ski chalet.

The basic construction is glulam beams and columns. Everything else is skeleton frames on both the facade and roof cassettes. The ceiling is plywood laid on wood rafters. Both ceilings and walls are finished with black Troldtekt acoustic panels with wooden strips, ensuring superior acoustics in the open office environment. A discreet, but highly effective solution.

Framehouse was designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, with its proprietor John Foldbjerg Lassen acting as project architect and concept developer. Together with Framehouse ApS’s CEO Martin Kvist-Madsen, he has developed the vision of a sustainable business community.

John Foldbjerg Lassen describes the architecture as follows:

“I think we have succeeded in designing a building where the craftsmanship stands out, and you get a sense of the wood’s structural properties. We have opted for a very open feel in the rooms, creating space for a light and vibrant working environment. The meeting rooms, canteen and communal areas are situated in the central section, while the offices are located along the facades on each floor. This encourages tenants to meet in the middle, while allowing them to withdraw to their offices and immerse themselves in their work as they wish.”

Framehouse is carbon-neutral, largely energy-self-sufficient and certified in accordance with the DNGB Gold label. The building has been nominated for several awards, including the Danish Wood Award 2021 and Arne of the Year Award 2019.

“Framehouse’s simple structural volumes relate to the local context, while it is a very unusual and special building in Denmark because of its exposed wooden structure, which is both sustainable and innovative.”

Quote from the Danish Association of Architects’ nomination for the Arne of the Year Award 2019.