Location: Copenhagen Contemporary, Refshaleøen
Period: July 1 – October 30
The (P)recast pavilion challenges conventional attitudes towards precast concrete in sustainable, equitable urban development.
As Denmark faces a wave of demolitions targeting post-war social housing, the (P)recast pavilion is taking a stand against the perception of these buildings as outdated and unattractive. (P)recast showcases innovative use of precast concrete elements, a construction system that has dominated the Danish industry since the 1950s.
ARCHITECTS:
GXN
PARTNERS:
Teknologisk Institut
Aarsleff
COWI
Aarhus Universitet
Tscherning
Søndergaard
Peikko
Hi-Con
Dansk Standard
Dansk Beton
AP Pension
Brabrand Boligforening
SEE MORE:
https://gxn.3xn.com/project/precast
The (P)recast research project explores the potential of reusing building components from structures built in Denmark from the 1950s onwards. With these buildings far from reaching their technical lifespan, the team questions whether their components can be reused in new construction, reducing resource consumption and could help Denmark meet its Paris Climate Agreement commitments. An innovative approach, with few references, making the pavilion the first of its kind in Denmark to showcase the reuse of unaltered precast concrete elements.
The concrete elements have been harvested in various demolitions in the metropolitan area of Copenhagen carried out by Tscherning & Søndergaard. The timber used to build the frames are harvested from Jagtvej 169 in the Østerbro borough of Copenhagen and is over 150 years old, however still fit to lift the heavy concrete.
Continously through the research project, the outcome will be shared with social housing corporations and municipalities across Denmark, empowering them to implement the reuse of precast concrete elements as soon as possible.
The partnership highlights industry-wide collaborative research within the methods and future of reuse of precast concrete elements.
“This pavilion showcases the demolition techniques necessary to implement full-scale reuse of precast concrete elements. The pavilion exhibits the elements whole, and without alteration to illuminate the fragility and aesthetics they have undressed. The pavilion structure is constructed with solely reused building materials, all of which are harvested in the metropolitan area of Copenhagen and is designed for disassembly such that the elements will return to use after the exhibition.”
Bjørn-Tore Johannesen
Sustainability Engineer GXN
Lasse Lind
Partner & Architect GXN
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