Space
When designing projects, Henning Larsen Architects often applies
the idea of the building as a city with the square as the central,
uniting element. As one of the company's first university projects,
Trondheim University (1978) is based on the idea of a consistent,
urban structure with an ample inflow of daylight. As the central
element of the building, the uniting, inner square allows the
viewer to interpret the building in a natural, almost intuitive
way.
Jåttå Vocational School (2007) in Norway is another example of a
project designed as a small "town in town" with a vibrant, double
high street surrounded by small, independent quarters with
individual teaching environments and academic spaces. The IT
University (2004) in Copenhagen interacts with its surroundings and
brings city life into his inner, spatial universe. In this way,
city life and the activities at the University are joined together
into one consistent, vibrant whole. Finally, the urban
structure has inspired the design of Reykjavik University (under
construction) whose round shape provides the framework for a large,
inner volume, an atrium, from where streets and small squares lead
users to the different faculties.
The idea of the building as an urban element, a city, with a
central, uniting square is based on experience of knowledge
sharing, openness and synergy and is architecturally inspired by,
for instance, the Arabic souk and the shopping arcades of the
19th century. In addition, the ideas of communes and
communal property from the 70's have contributed to the emergence
of today's "new office" tendencies in educational and commercial
building.