The Crystal, Office building at Kalvebod Brygge waterfront, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Crystal is a six-story office building with transparent glass walls arranged in a geometric form and supported by a single point and line above ground level. The triple-layered glass facade and photovoltaic panels on the roof are key structural features.
The building was designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects as an expansion of Nykredit headquarters and opened in March 2011. Its modern design marked an important moment in contemporary office architecture at Copenhagen's waterfront.
The building connects to its surroundings through a public plaza featuring one of the country's largest fountains with thousands of water jets. The light-colored slate paving and fountain create a focal point for people gathering in the space.
Visiting during daylight hours is best to fully appreciate the glass structure and see the fountain details on the plaza clearly. The public plaza is freely accessible, and the area is easy to explore on foot.
The interior follows a Z-shaped floor plan wrapped around two atriums that maximize natural light throughout the building. This unusual layout creates open work areas without internal support columns interrupting the space.
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