At the very tip of Ørestad Syd, an area from with direct views of Kalvebod Common, is a large bow-shaped building nicknamed 8 Tallet og BIG House.
It is the largest residential building in Denmark.
The shape of BIG House is based on traditional blocks of buildings, but it is turned and twisted so that the building looks like a large infinity sign from above. There is a 1.5-kilometre-long path that runs around the entire perimeter of the building.
The 'bow' of the building creates two inner courtyards separated at the point where the two loops meet. This intersection contains the communal facilities, with a floor area of 500 m2. The centre is also intersected by a nine metre wide passage that connects the urban spaces on either side of the building: the park to the west and the canal area to the east.
Housing and commercial facilities on different levels
The building's two primary functions - residential and commercial - are seperated by floor, with residential facilities located on the upper levels and the commercial facilities in the base of the building.
According to the architects, this gives each individual level a unique character: the housing units benefit from optimum light, air and views, and the commercial facilities are in contact with the activities taking place at street level. This principle is reinforced in the design of the building, which is 'lifted' in the north-east corner and 'pressed down' to the south-east, to let light into the courtyard.
The building complex comprises 92 terraced houses, 273 apartments and 109 penthouses. Altogether 501 apartments
Floor area: 62,000 m2, of which about 10,000 m2 is commercial facilities.