Complete renovation of a 5-star luxury hotel in central Copenhagen
- Address
- Bremerholm 6, Copenhagen
Info
- Client
- Brøchner Hotels
- Area
- 1,825 m²
- Architect
- Dansk Ejendoms Management
- Project Period
- 2016–2019
- Contractor
- Hoffmann + HM Byg
- Total Construction Cost
- 60 million DKK
Nature of the Project
Dong’s old transformer station at Bremerholm 6 has been converted into a new, luxurious 5-star boutique hotel with 31 rooms.
The hotel was built to international standards, the likes of which Copenhagen has never seen before, and ABC was selected to serve as structural engineering consultants on this large and exciting project.
The building, constructed back in 1962–1963, is an old and robust cast-in-place concrete structure. The transformation involved modifications to the load-bearing and stabilizing concrete structures, for which new steel, concrete, and composite structures were designed to meet the new requirements.
The property was renovated on all floors, with usable spaces expanded and redesigned. On the ground floor, an impressive lobby and bar area with a 12-meter-high ceiling was created. The concrete roof structure was removed, and a new roof deck and roof structure were installed.
A new two-story steel roof structure was built, cantilevering over the rear courtyard. The building’s soul—its robust and raw look—was preserved. The facade was renovated with a focus on retaining the suspended steel profiles that give the building its unique appearance.
This fidelity to the building’s character meant, among other things, that the transformation project won the RENOVER Award in 2019. As Gøsta Knudsen, chair of the nomination committee, stated:
“Hotel Herman K is exemplary in its transformation from a substation to a hotel. The project is a highly successful renovation, in which the team has, notably, managed to preserve the original, electrifying, raw, and brutalist architectural expression. This demonstrates architectural insight, exemplary construction management, and excellent collaboration with the hotel operator. Respect. It is a compelling achievement.”
Quote
“Herman K won one of the major awards back in 2029—the Renovation Award—and it was well deserved. It was truly an amazing project. What makes the project truly special is that it was ABC’s first really major project, so it holds a huge place in the hearts of many of us.”
Sustainability
The building is a transformation of the former transformer station from 1963 and thus represents the reuse of existing structures rather than demolition and new construction.
Large parts of the structures (high-strength concrete, rebar) have been preserved and reused in the foundations, walls, floors, and partition walls. The distinctive bronze façade has been reused and adapted to the building’s new function as a hotel—which both preserves architectural heritage and reduces material consumption.
The building originally had minimal insulation, and the renovation has improved both the insulation and the quality of the building systems to meet modern energy efficiency standards. Exposed concrete and the Brutalist aesthetic have been preserved as a design asset—which supports sustainability through a long service life, minimal material changes, and minimal surface treatment.
It was a technical challenge to transform a raw concrete building with low insulation to hotel standards, which required improved systems for energy and indoor climate.
