Architect/Design
Arkitema - Johan Grud Bjerregaard & Anna Kathrine Bisgaard Sørensen

Location
Copenhagen, Denmark

Opening
2023

Interior
Motorised Kvadrat Shade roller blinds with bracket hardware designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, featuring the metallised textile Silvretta. 7-layer curtains offering diverse expressions of Divina MD and Divina Melange 3. Coda 2 is used for the lounge area in the learning room. 

At Lighthouse KUB Nord, Kvadrat textiles and Kvadrat Shade roller blinds play a central role in creating a ‘hybrid-flexible’ facility designed for learning and innovation. The versatility of the space is enhanced by the use of Kvadrat Shade roller blinds, curtains and mobile furniture, which can be configured to suit a range of activities.

The Kvadrat Shade roller blind solution is motorised, making it easy to control the amount of daylight entering through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. The automated blinds are particularly beneficial in the study areas, where light management and visual comfort are essential to support concentration and minimise distractions. The metallised textile Silvretta reduces glare, making it easier to view screens and read text without eye strain. In addition, the metallised backside reflects 62% of solar radiation, keeping the rooms cooler in summer and retaining heat in winter, helping to maintain a comfortable environment for focused work. This efficient insulation also reduces the need for cooling systems, contributing to lower energy consumption.

In addition to the Kvadrat Shade roller blinds, the special 7-layer curtains further elevate the experience at Lighthouse KUB Nord. These curtains are made from different shades of Divina MD and Divina Melange on the outward facing sides, incorporating five sound absorbing core layers and a leather finished base. Together with the Kvadrat Shade roller blinds, they create a unique, adaptable, and acoustically enhanced environment.

Anna Kathrine Bisgaard Sørensen, Senior Creative Leader, Arkitekt MAA Associate, says: “The ambition has been to create a super user-friendly hybrid-flexible facility where aesthetics and technology interact optimally, and where the user gets a quality experience whether physically present at the location or participating from a distance. This has been achieved thanks to a strong interdisciplinary development collaboration with sub-consultants, suppliers and the client - management and employees at Det Kgl. Bibliotek.”

Lighthouse KUB Nord (København’s Universitetsbibliotek Nørre Campus) is a transformation project housed in the iconic Koppel Building. With views over a park, it serves as a focal point for students, teachers, and researchers who use the Royal Danish Library facilities at the University of Copenhagen’s North Campus.