Amidst the dense urban fabric of Odense, a new housing complex features a landscaped green courtyard at its centre. Designed as a communal outdoor space, it provides residents with access to greenery and shared areas within the urban environment.
In the middle of Odense, the largest city on the island of Funen in Denmark, the residential block Kongens Karré offers a calm refuge for its residents. The three-storey housing complex encloses a courtyard that functions as a social space for the building’s 84 residential units.
Designed by the Danish Creo Arkitekter, the project brings together urban housing, communal outdoor areas and a carefully considered material palette. The courtyard marks the centre of the development: elevated to the first floor it allows more hours of sunlight for golden evening hours. Warm colours, generous greenery and rounded edges define the space, which is laid out like a labyrinth.
Between picturesque plant beds and curved paths, residents find intimate corners for quiet moments as well as open areas for shared activity. A large tree at the centre serves as a natural gathering point, visually and socially connecting the homes around it.
The name Kongens Karré refers to the site’s history. According to old maps, a building called Kongehuset – King’s house – once stood here. Despite its royal-sounding heritage, today’s focus lies firmly on contemporary living. All apartments are accessible via elevators, ensuring level-free access throughout. The ground floor accommodates parking and a large communal room with street-facing windows, reinforcing the connection with city life.
For the courtyard, the architects selected the paving brick Odense med Kul (Odense with coal): a deliberate reference to the city’s most common brick – named after Odense itself. Its texture and its warm yellow tone with subtly burnt edges can be found throughout the city.
The Odense paving bricks are produced from slate-containing clay. According to the manufacturer, the material is characterised by low water absorption and resistance to winter salting, grease and oil, properties that contribute to the long-term performance of the paving.
“Kongens Karré was designed with a focus on communal living and environmental considerations. DGNB criteria were used as part of the design process.”, the architects say on their website. “Using the DGNB's (German Sustainable Building Council) knock-out criteria, aspects of the development were assessed and informed during the design process."
Environmental considerations informed several aspects of the project. Built as low-energy housing in accordance with BR 2015 Building Class 2020, Kongens Karré incorporates solar panels, heat-treated wood and FSC-certified timber. Kongens Karré functions as a shared courtyard in the city centre, providing residents with access to a green communal space while maintaining a connection to the surrounding urban environment.
The courtyard introduces greenery and shared outdoor facilities into the urban setting, contributing to the character of the development.
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