COBE

COBE is an architecture and urban design practice founded in Copenhagen in 2006 by architect Dan Stubbergaard. The firm works across urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design, combining city-scale development strategies with the design of individual buildings, public spaces, transport infrastructure, cultural institutions, and civic facilities. Its work is particularly associated with the transformation of former industrial and port areas into mixed-use urban districts, as well as with public-realm projects intended to make dense cities more accessible, social, and environmentally responsive. The practice developed a strong Copenhagen focus during its early years. Stubbergaard and the studio have been involved in more than 200 projects in Copenhagen, ranging from station and street improvements to large master plans and waterfront redevelopment. A major turning point was the 2008 competition victory for the master plan of Nordhavn, Copenhagen's former industrial harbor. The project gave COBE a long-term role in shaping one of the city's most important new districts and was followed by the relocation of the studio to Nordhavn in 2018. The firm's workplace in the district reflects its close relationship with the area and its broader interest in urban transformation. Among COBE's best-known completed projects are the redesign of Nørreport Station, the public space at Israels Plads, Krøyers Plads, The Silo, Køge Nord Station, Karen Blixens Plads, and the Ragnarock museum in Roskilde. These projects demonstrate the practice's range: transport-oriented public infrastructure, adaptive reuse, residential and waterfront development, landscape and public-space design, and cultural architecture. The Silo, a former grain silo converted into a mixed-use building, illustrates COBE's interest in retaining industrial identity while adapting existing structures to contemporary urban life. Køge Nord Station similarly combines infrastructure, mobility, and architectural identity. COBE's urban design approach is also expressed through projects such as Paper Island, the Opera Park, the Tip of Redmolen, Kronløb Island, and the West Don Lands development in Toronto. Other work includes educational and cultural buildings, kindergartens, libraries, sports and community facilities, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, and master plans for harbor and city districts. The firm has also participated in international projects in Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, and Canada. The studio's profile has been reinforced by exhibitions, publications, and a substantial record of professional recognition. Its project work has received or been shortlisted for awards from organizations including ArchDaily, Architizer, Dezeen, the German Design Award, the Civic Trust, CTBUH, MIPIM, the European Prize for Urban Public Space, and Danish architecture and design institutions. In 2016, founder Dan Stubbergaard received the Eckersberg Royal Medal. By 2020, the Copenhagen office was reported to have approximately 150 employees and to be handling projects across Europe and North America. COBE remains an independently owned and managed architectural practice led by Stubbergaard, with a portfolio centered on the relationship between architecture, landscape, mobility, and urban development.

COBE was established in Copenhagen in 2006 by architect Dan Stubbergaard. From its beginning, the practice positioned itself between architecture and urban planning rather than limiting its work to individual buildings. Its portfolio grew through projects involving public space, transport, landscape, cultural buildings, residential development, and large-scale city planning. The firm has subsequently been involved in more than 200 projects in Copenhagen, giving it a substantial role in the city's continuing physical transformation. The practice's most consequential early commission emerged from a 2008 competition for the redevelopment of Nordhavn. COBE won the master plan for the former industrial harbor, creating a long-term framework for a new urban district. Nordhavn became an important reference for the firm's work: it connected questions of harbor regeneration, density, public access, mobility, and mixed-use development. In 2018, COBE moved its studio to Nordhavn, reinforcing the relationship between the practice and the district it had helped shape. During the 2010s, COBE completed a sequence of projects in Copenhagen and elsewhere in Denmark. Nørreport Station addressed one of the city's most important transport hubs, while Israels Plads and Karen Blixens Plads demonstrated the firm's interest in public spaces that support everyday urban activity. Krøyers Plads combined waterfront development with public-realm design. Other projects included Vester Voldgade, libraries, kindergartens, community facilities, and cultural institutions. The practice also worked outside Denmark, including the Porsgrunn Maritime Museum in Norway and the Danish Pavilion for Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea. COBE became particularly visible through projects that reused or reinterpreted industrial structures. The Silo in Copenhagen converted a former grain silo into a contemporary mixed-use building while retaining the character of the original industrial shell. The project, completed in 2017, was followed by recognition in architecture and design awards. The office also designed Ragnarock, a museum for pop, rock, and youth culture in Roskilde, and a range of educational and civic buildings such as the Tingbjerg Culture House and Library, the Red Cross Volunteer House, Kids' City, and several kindergartens. Mobility and infrastructure formed another important strand of the firm's development. In addition to Nørreport Station and Køge Nord Station, COBE worked on Alfred Nobels Bro, Landgangen, and ultra-fast charging stations for electric cars in Fredericia. These projects reflect the practice's tendency to treat infrastructure as part of the public realm and as an opportunity to improve the experience of moving through cities. Køge Nord Station, completed in 2019, became one of the firm's prominent transport projects. The firm expanded its international project activity through master plans and buildings in Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and Canada. Projects under construction or in development included Paper Island, the Tip of Redmolen, Kronløb Island, the Opera Park, Place Schuman in Brussels, the West Don Lands in Toronto, and work connected with the European Spallation Source in Lund. COBE also developed harbor and urban strategies for German cities including Bremerhaven and Bremen. Exhibitions such as Our Urban Living Room presented the firm's ideas about the relationship between public space and urban life in Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Berlin. The same work was documented in publications, including a book about The Silo and the Our Urban Living Room publication. COBE's professional profile was further established through awards and nominations from Danish and international organizations. Recognition listed for the practice includes the Golden Lion at the 2006 Venice Biennale of Architecture, the Eckersberg Royal Medal awarded to Stubbergaard in 2016, the European Prize for Urban Public Space, Architizer and ArchDaily awards, Dezeen and German Design Awards, Civic Trust recognition, and repeated Copenhagen architecture awards. By 2020, the Copenhagen office had approximately 150 employees and was working on projects throughout Europe and North America. The practice continues to be owned and managed by its founder.

• 2020

  International awards and growing project portfolio

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  The firm was listed among finalists, winners, and honorees across several international architecture, landscape, and design award programs; its office was reported to have approximately 150 employees.

• 2019

  Køge Nord Station completed

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  The practice completed Køge Nord Station, adding a major Danish transport project to its portfolio.

• 2018

  Studio relocates to Nordhavn

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  COBE moved its studio to the Nordhavn district that it had helped plan.

• 2017

  The Silo completed

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  COBE completed the conversion of a former grain silo in Copenhagen into a mixed-use building.

• 2016

  Founder receives the Eckersberg Royal Medal

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  Dan Stubbergaard received the Eckersberg Royal Medal, one of the recognitions listed in connection with COBE's work.

• 2015

  Nørreport Station and Krøyers Plads completed

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  COBE completed two prominent Copenhagen projects: the redevelopment of Nørreport Station and the Krøyers Plads waterfront development.

• 2012

  Danish Pavilion at Expo 2012

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  The firm designed the Danish Pavilion for Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea.

• 2008

  Nordhavn master plan competition won

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  COBE won the competition for the master plan of Nordhavn, a major redevelopment area in Copenhagen's former industrial harbor.

• 2006

  COBE founded in Copenhagen

  [1]Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org

  Architect Dan Stubbergaard established COBE as a Copenhagen-based architecture and urban design practice.

An internationally active Danish architecture and urban design practice focused on integrated city-making, public life, adaptive reuse, mobility, and the transformation of former industrial and waterfront areas.

• Urban planning

  Urban master planning

  COBE develops long-term frameworks for districts, waterfronts, and former industrial areas. Its planning work typically combines land-use strategy, public-space networks, mobility, landscape, and architectural principles. The Nordhavn master plan is the firm's most prominent documented example, while other planning work includes harbor and district strategies in Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and Canada.

• Building design

  Architecture

  The practice designs residential, cultural, educational, civic, commercial, and infrastructure buildings. Notable examples include The Silo, Ragnarock museum, Køge Nord Station, Nørreport Station, the Tingbjerg Culture House and Library, and the Red Cross Volunteer House. The portfolio ranges from new construction to the adaptation of existing industrial structures.

• Landscape architecture

  Landscape and public-space design

  COBE designs squares, streets, waterfronts, parks, and civic landscapes intended to support everyday public life. Documented projects include Israels Plads, Karen Blixens Plads, Krøyers Plads, Vester Voldgade, Landgangen, and the planned Opera Park. These commissions connect landscape design with urban movement, recreation, and social use.

• Infrastructure design

  Transport and mobility infrastructure

  The firm applies architectural and urban-design expertise to stations, bridges, mobility spaces, and emerging transport infrastructure. Nørreport Station and Køge Nord Station are central examples, complemented by Alfred Nobels Bro and ultra-fast charging stations for electric cars in Fredericia. The work treats infrastructure as a visible and usable part of the city rather than as an isolated technical facility.

• 2016Our Urban Living Room

  Denmark · Finland · Germany

  COBE presented its ideas about public space and urban life in an exhibition shown at the Danish Architecture Center in Copenhagen, Laituri in Helsinki, and Aedes in Berlin.

  Outcome. The exhibition continued in multiple European cities and was subsequently documented in a publication.

  Source

• 2017

  Complete the adaptive reuse of The SiloGeneration change

  Background

  A former Copenhagen grain silo presented an opportunity to retain industrial heritage while introducing contemporary uses.

  Action taken

  COBE converted the silo into a mixed-use building while preserving and expressing its industrial structure.

  Aftermath

  The project became one of COBE's most recognizable completed works and received recognition in architecture and design programs.

  Source

• 2008

  Pursue the Nordhavn master planStrategy

  Background

  Copenhagen's former industrial harbor was being planned for large-scale urban redevelopment.

  Action taken

  COBE entered and won the competition for the Nordhavn master plan, establishing a long-term role in the district's development.

  Aftermath

  Nordhavn became a defining reference for the practice, and COBE later moved its studio into the district.

  Source

1. 1Cobe (architectural firm)en.wikipedia.org