Architecture

The Water Culture House at Papirøen is a gift to the residents of Copenhagen and to the city’s visitors. And an idea that was conceived by the people of Copenhagen themselves.

From Idea to Reality

In the spring of 2015, the City of Copenhagen held an idea competition for a new cultural and recreational facility at Papirøen. Copenhageners submitted 160 proposals, the vast majority of which expressed a desire for a swimming facility on the island.

In February 2017, the City of Copenhagen issued an international invitation to tender for the contract for the design of the Water Culture House of Papirøen. The City of Copenhagen then selected two finalists, who qualified their tender for the future Water Culture House at Papirøen. Nordea-fonden supported the architectural competition, providing DKK 2.1 million.

The winner of the architectural competition was officially announced in December 2017 – Kengo Kuma & Associates together with Cornelius Vöge Atelier for Arkitektur and Søren Jensen Råd­givende Ingeniørfirma.

The construction of KAI cost DKK 989 million. The City of Copenhagen has contributed DKK 443 million to the project. Nordea-fonden has provided DKK 546 million in funding, which has made it possible to build a Water Culture House of the highest calibre. As part of this funding, Nordea-fonden has earmarked DKK 25 million for sustainability measures in the construction project.

Japanese Architecture on Copenhagen’s Waterfront

On December 5th, 2026, the Water Culture House will open, and its architecture will be unlike anything seen in Copenhagen before, focusing on indoor and outdoor aquatic activities in the Port of Copenhagen. 

The building is a cluster of cone-shaped volumes made from bricks, whose colour will match the grey tones of the surrounding buildings, ‘resting’ on a ribbon of glass. The main attraction will be an outdoor pool in a ‘valley’ created by the roof structure, which will ensure that bathers enjoy a unique experience overlooking Copenhagen from the pool. On the quay outside the building, a bathing and dipping zone will be established, offering swimming opportunities for both children and adults. The Culture Tower, located in the tallest of the building’s five brick cones, will, with its movement and culture rooms, serve as a meeting place for culture house guests and a diverse range of associations.

The Architect Behind KAI

Kengo Kuma was born in 1954 and graduated from the University of Tokyo, where he is now a professor of architecture. He founded the architectural firm Kengo Kuma & Associates in 1990, which has since created architectural works in more than twenty countries and received numerous prestigious awards, including The Architectural Institute of Japan Award. Kengo Kuma & Associates is known for creating architecture in natural materials that integrate with its cultural and environmental surroundings.

The team behind KAI

Building contractor

  • Ejendomsfonden Vandkulturhuset Papirøen

Contributors

  • Nordea-fonden and The City og Copenhagen (Københavns Kommune)

Building contractor’s consultant

  • COWI A/S

Turnkey contractor

  • MT Højgaard AS

Lead Consultant

  • Kengo Kuma & Associates

Junior advisers

  • Vilhelm Lauritzen Arkitekter A/S:
    Architect
  • Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma A/S:
    Engineer – Structures and Engineering
  • KI Rådgivende Ingeniører ApS:
    Engineers – steel structures
  • COWI A/S Building East:
    Facade engineers
  • Jesper Kongshaug:
    Lighting designer

Former junior advisers

  • Cornelius Vöge Atelier for arkitektur:
    Architect – up to and including the preliminary design