The new Sundbyøster Hall 2 is a distinctive element on the Amagerbrogade, an important traffic artery leading into the centre of Copenhagen. The building combines three functions in an unconventional form: a supermarket, a sports hall and housing are stacked on top of each other to create a large-scale sculptural entity. With her complex design that reflects the various uses, the Copenhagen architect Dorte Mandrup won the competition staged by the city. Above the glazed plinth zone, containing the supermarket and entrance area, the facade to the sports hall is articulated into vertically faceted timber-lined segments, with narrow strips of glazing that allow daylight into the interior. The topmost level comprises a row of 12 owner-occupied penthouse dwellings that are acoustically discrete from the sports hall. Forecourts and internal courtyards ensure that the 24-metre-deep layouts enjoy adequate natural lighting, and large glazed oriels along the north face open the dwellings to the city. The sports hall is the heart of the development, used by children from the neighbouring school and by club members. This hybrid structure was conceived to have a synergetic effect without the different uses impeding each other.
