Skiing on the roof of a power plant
It seems like a dream to many, but in Copenhagen it is a reality: on the waste-to-energy power plant Amager Bakke, you can ski, hike and climb since 2018. And that includes Derbigum for something in between.
© BIG Bjarke Ingels Group
Project by architect Bjarke Ingels
The Amager Bakke, Amager Slope or Copenhill project was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). ‘Starchitect’ Bjarke Ingels is world-famous and has already managed to realize big projects all over the world with a focus on sustainable and functional buildings. The Danish Bjarke Ingels Group has offices in New York, London and Copenhagen.
Its mission? To turn Copenhagen’s more industrialized suburb into a true sports and recreational attraction. Amagar Bakke is unique because both waste is treated, energy is generated and the roof offers many new functions. Ingels himself says in a Copenhill documentary that sustainable, functional buildings offer more opportunities, are more enjoyable and greatly enhance the appeal of cities. Ingels calls Amager Bakke a hybrid landmark, between building and landscape.
“This project fits completely with our vision of perceiving flat roofs not simply as a roof over your head, but as a functional extension of the house you live in, the building you work in or the city you live in. No Roof To Waste, in other words! With this project, we add another internationally renowned building to our list of finished buildings.”
– Derbigum CEO Grégoire Morel
Derbigum as a sustainable base
Derbigum was chosen for the complete waterproofing of this innovative project with various functions. Multi Tag Entreprise’s roofers used the enormously robust and anti-root waterproofing membrane Derbigum GC AR (also extremely suitable for green roofs!). Our Derbigum GC AR membrane has two separate reinforcements on the upper side: fiberglass and non-woven polyester. This gives the product perfect dimensional stability as well as excellent tear and puncture resistance. The more than 50,000 annual visitors can therefore venture onto the Copenhill for the next 50 years – that’s how robust and durable Derbigum products are – without any worries.
Award winner
The Copenhill project won the World Building of the Year architectural award in 2021. According to jury member Paul Finch, the project deserves this award because it perfectly fulfils the role of architecture in a world of recycling and zero carbon. Furthermore, the jury is convinced that the project does not generate ‘Not In My Backyard’ (NIMBY) but rather YIMBY feelings. It motivates architects and designers to think further and fight for ideas and reminds us that buildings can also just be fun!
