Lighting is an indispensable part of our daily lives. It shapes the environments in which we live and work, and has a significant impact on our well-being. When the lighting is right, it supports our activities, creates a sense of security, and enhances the visual experience of the spaces we inhabit. This is why it is crucial that lighting design is planned with care and insight to support both function and aesthetics in our spaces and buildings.
UdforskElegant cylindrical switching station with innovative lighting at Øresundsbron
Energy & Industry
Substation, Copenhagen Airport
Kastrup, Copenhagen
The cylindrical switching station uses an elegant lighting feature that greets drivers on their way to and from the Øresund Bridge to Sweden. In 2000, a bridge was built close to Copenhagen Airport connecting Denmark and Sweden.
The airport and the surrounding area underwent a huge transformation. As a result, the demand for electricity grew and a new substation was built to handle high-voltage power to better meet consumer needs, not only for private homes, but also for trains, industrial applications and airport installations.
Client
Copenhagen Energy A/S and Dong Energy A/S
Status
Completed
Size
4000 m2
Year
1999
Collaborators
MOE, Ingvar Cronhammar
Areas of Expertise
Photos
Gottlieb Paludan Architects
Substation design
The location of the substation is dictated by the maximum cable length from transformer to consumer. The site itself is a narrow triangle, sandwiched between the highway and railroad tracks that run above and below ground. The large transformers at the substation generate waste heat that is naturally expelled via the 1.5 meter wide gallery between the building's inner concrete structure and the glass facade.
Design challanges
- Employing a technical facility as an architectural landmark on the urban horizon.
- Fitting a large technical facility onto a very limited plot of land.
The glass facade consists of almost 2,500 glass panels that are polished on three edges. The fourth and visible edge is frosted and lit with fiber optic cables, giving the building a radiant appearance at night.
This lighting feature was created in collaboration with the famous Danish artist Ingvar Cronhammar.
The location of the substation is dictated by the maximum cable length from transformer to consumer.
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