BIG CPH Headquarters

BIG HQ - A bastion of glass and concrete

After two years of construction, BIG's new 4,880 m² headquarters is now complete. Located on a narrow quay in Copenhagen's Nordhavn, the building is set to achieve DGNB Gold using Uni-Green – a new type of concrete developed in collaboration between BIG and Unicon, which offers a CO2 reduction of approximately 25%, resulting in a CO2 footprint of 11.3 kg CO2 eq/m²/year.

By combining the efforts of BIG LEAPP – BIG's landscape, engineering, architecture, planning, and product teams – everything from door handles to the 20-meter-long concrete beams, from glass façades to the surrounding landscape, has been designed by the BIG LEAPP team. The headquarters also integrates solar and geothermal energy systems, contributing to 60% of its energy needs being met through renewable sources.

Upon entering through a 3-meter-high glass door, BIGsters and visitors find themselves in a Piranesian space, where the building’s inner life is revealed through diagonal views extending up to the top floor. In addition to the beams resting on one another, a single stone column made of six different types of stone – from dense granite at the bottom to solid marble at the top – supports the structure at the heart of the space. An open staircase zigzags from level to level, spanning the full height of the building from the ground floor to the top floor. Each floor has direct access to a balcony, which is connected to the one above and below, creating a continuous 140-meter-long strip of outdoor areas winding from the roof to the quay like a mountain path.

At the tip of the quay, BIG Landscape has transformed a former parking area into a 1,500 m² public sand park that celebrates Danish landscapes with dunes, stones, and coastal plants such as wind-, salt-, and flood-resistant species. To the north, trees such as pines and oaks have been planted to provide shelter from the wind, while to the south, areas of planting, stone, and forest are created to support habitats for insects and biodiversity. Long benches, inspired by the building’s beams, define an urban character for the waterfront promenade.

On the roof, a terrace is designed to resemble a forest floor, with lush, planted mounds framed by wooden planks with living edges, celebrating Danish craftsmanship and landscapes. On the headquarters' terraces, located on the exterior of the building, a series of deep planting boxes on the façades collect rainwater and reduce the need for irrigation.

For the project, Glaseksperten produced 3-meter-high glass sliding doors, façade glass with solar control using Pilkington Suncool 70/40, and fire-rated glass doors.

Project name
BIG CPH Headquarters

Location
Copenhagen

Type
Office

Scope of the project
4.880 m²

Products:
Facade glass with solar control, glass sliding door, fire-rated glass doors, and skylights.

Customer:
Eiler Thomsen Alufacader

Architect:
BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group

Photo:
Rasmus Hjortshøj and Laurian Ghinitoiu