CopenHill, designed by BIG, is a waste-to-energy plant in Copenhagen, Denmark that redefines urban infrastructure. This hybrid structure integrates recreation with sustainability, reflecting a bold vision for the future.
Officially known as Amager Bakke, this waste-to-energy plant integrates a surprising range of public amenities: an artificial ski slope, a hiking trail, a climbing wall, and a green rooftop. CopenHill exemplifies "hedonistic sustainability," transforming an industrial building into a multifaceted urban playground. The project symbolizes Copenhagen’s commitment to becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral city by 2025, illustrating how public utility can harmonize with environmental stewardship and urban recreation.
CopenHill stands on the industrial waterfront of Amager, where extreme sports such as wakeboarding and go-karting have found a home. The addition of skiing, hiking, and rock climbing to the area feels not only natural but innovative, blurring the line between industrial necessity and public pleasure. The building itself is a 41,000m² facility that converts 440,000 tons of waste annually into clean energy, powering over 150,000 homes. Despite its primary role as a waste-to-energy plant, CopenHill’s design embraces leisure and activity, emphasizing the ways infrastructure can support a vibrant urban lifestyle.
At the heart of CopenHill’s allure is its rooftop ski slope. Spanning 9,000m², the artificial ski terrain offers both beginners and seasoned skiers a unique urban skiing experience. The rooftop also features hiking trails and a cross-fit area, all of which are designed to evoke the sensation of being on a mountain, an extraordinary experience in the otherwise flat landscape of Denmark. Danish landscape architects SLA designed the rooftop greenery, which doubles as a natural filter for air pollutants and a solution for stormwater runoff, thereby enriching the building's environmental contributions.
The design of CopenHill is a study in juxtaposition, where function and form converge. Inside, the factory hums with the activity of converting waste into energy, while outside, thrill-seekers ascend the towering 85-meter climbing wall—the tallest in the world. This balance between industrial efficiency and human experience extends into every detail, including the sleek aluminum façade that encloses the plant. The façade's staggered, brick-like pattern, punctuated by windows, provides glimpses into the facility's inner workings, creating a constant dialogue between industry and community.
Ultimately, CopenHill is more than an architectural feat. It’s a model for future urban development, showing how civic infrastructure can be interwoven with public space, environmental sustainability, and recreation. It challenges the traditional roles of power plants, presenting a new vision where pleasure and necessity coexist seamlessly.
