Centre for Health in Copenhagen brings architecture and healthcare together. The City of Copenhagen commissioned the project to address the growing number of people living with lifestyle-related diseases. Dorte Mandrup answered with a building that motivates movement and interaction and replaces the atmosphere of a clinic with a setting that feels supportive and warming. The project highlights how creative industries can contribute to areas such as healthcare when architects collaborate closely with public institutions and medical professionals.
Design as a driver for rehabilitation in healthcare
The Heart Room forms the core of the building. Tall timber arches create a generous atrium where visitors arrive and meet. From here, they move into spaces for exercise, workshops, consultations and shared meals. Natural light and wooden interiors create a calm environment, while gardens connect treatment with daily life outside.
The project emerged through dialogue with patients and healthcare staff in close cooperation with the city administration. Each perspective shaped how functions and spaces connect, so the building now supports treatment and at the same time helps build a sense of community. The result is a place that makes rehabilitation accessible and uplifting. At the same time, the centre has become a resource for the neighbourhood, where local residents can use the facilities and experience the atmosphere of the building.
Centre for Health shows how architecture can act as a partner in prevention and recovery. The project demonstrates that when healthcare, design and public ambition align, the outcome is a building that changes both individual lives and the urban fabric around it.
About Dorte Mandrup
Dorte Mandrup is a Danish architecture studio recognised internationally for projects shaped by context and community. The studio began in 1999 and has since completed projects across Europe and the Arctic, including the Wadden Sea Centre in Denmark, the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre in Greenland and The Whale in Norway.
The practice continues to explore how architecture can shape awareness and create conditions for more resilient communities. Each project aims to add tangible qualities that improve everyday life.