The Carlsberg City District, located in the heart of Copenhagen, aims to be Denmark’s first ‘Green City’. The historical site, where Carlsberg’s world famous beers have been produced for generations, will be transformed into a 25-hectare multifunctional and climate-friendly city district. Work on the site has recently begun.
The development company Carlsberg Byen P/S has started developing the former Carlsberg brewing site in the heart of the Danish capital. In the next 10-15 years the historical site, which has a proud 160-year-old tradition of beer making, will become one of the most sustainable districts in the world, and will include retailers, educational institutions, private apartments, sports venues, cultural centres and offices.
“While our development takes into account the history of Carlsberg, we have also designed it with the future in mind, and we aim for Carlsberg City District to be one of the first ‘Green Cities’ in Denmark. All new architectural projects will be constructed as low-energy buildings to ensure sustainability and CO2 neutrality,” said CEO of the development company Carlsberg Byen P/S, Jens Nyhus.
The master plan behind Carlsberg City District has already attracted a lot of international acclaim. Most recently, in 2013, the master plan received a silver medal in sustainability according to the certification system, DGNB.
While low-energy buildings are key elements of the ‘Green City’, other aspects such as infrastructure, diversity and social features also play an important role in enhancing the green character of the district.
In the new city district, public transport to and from the area will be easy and climate-friendly, thanks to a vast network of bicycle paths and a new modern commuter railway station, which is expected to become among the five busiest in Copenhagen, once the area is fully developed.
Furthermore, the unique historical equity of the site is to be preserved and the vast majority of Carlsberg’s premises will remain. Landmark buildings, picturesque green spaces and a proud history, ensure that the area retains a character in keeping with its ‘Green City’ status, which sets it apart from other Danish development projects.
Also adding to the green atmosphere of the historic site are urban gardening projects and non-profit social businesses, such as an urban beehive project run by a group of long-term unemployed.
All in all, this focus on sustainability, which reflects the long-term approach of the five institutional shareholders in the development company, Realdania, Carlsberg, PFA, PenSam and Topdanmark, will increase quality of life for residents and add to the attraction of the area for both private and institutional investors.
Although the first private residences will not be ready until 2016-2017, 5,500 people have already signed up to register their interest. Retailers are also expressing strong enthusiasm, not least because the development will provide a steady flow of potential customers, in the form of students, employees, residents and tourists. For instance, the Carlsberg Brewhouse, a new Brand and Experience Centre, expects to attract more than 500,000 Danish and international visitors every year.
“We are very excited about the extensive interest in the Carlsberg City District – an interest that reaches far beyond Danish borders. Since the Carlsberg City District master plan won first prize at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona 2009, we have experienced sustained interest from international investors and developers,” said Jens Nyhus.
The development company Carlsberg Byen P/S will showcase the development project ‘Carlsberg City District’ as part of the Copenhagen/Malmø stand at MIPIM real estate exhibition in Cannes, France on March 11-14 2014.
