A set of stunning floating pavilions are about to grace Copenhagen's canals. London architecture studio Pan- Projects released designs of its Teahouse Ø, which is the first floating pavilion in the series meant to make the waterways more accessible to the public.
The stunning design, created in partnership with Danish designer Helene Christina Pedersen, features acrylic tubes suspended from the roof to make up the transparent walls. This unique exterior is reflected on the water below, enhancing its majestic nature and making it appear as if it is running water. Then from the inside, you can see the surrounding cityscape, but it's more muted through the wall of tubes. This creates a sense of escape in the heart of the city. In fact, Ø means "island" in Danish.
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The designs used wood with fiber-reinforced, plastic-covered styrofoam to make the pavilion float as far as other materials.
Although the first floating structure is described as a teahouse, the designers envision it to be multipurpose. It can be a stage, a yoga platform, and more. Since it's moveable within the canal, it can be repurposed repeatedly depending on the needs of the public. Overall, the goal is to create more public space and bring people closer to the water as a way of discovering a new peaceful side of the city.
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Other planned floating pavilions include Oyster Bar Ø—a floating bar and restaurant—and Square Ø that would be a meeting spot on the water. But due to the pandemic, those projects are delayed. And, for now, the current pavilion is being used as a space to host covid-safe events this summer.
Copenhagen seems to be in a bit of a water building boom too. Kengo Kuma's aquatics center and harbor bath and Marshall Blecher and Studio Foxtrot's floating islands called "parkipelago" are all planned projects set to be erected on the canals.
