Bjarke Ingels and Simon Frommenwiler build jigsaw-puzzle house in Copenhagen
Architects Bjarke Ingels and Simon Frommenwiler have teamed up to create a brightly hued house that can be taken apart and rebuilt, for 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen.
Puzzle House is situated in the back garden of Copenhagen's Swiss embassy, a regular participating venue in 3 Days of Design and organisers of Architecture in Residence – a programme that aims to strengthen connections between Danish and Swiss architects.
The installation was designed by Ingels, founder of Danish firm BIG, and Frommenwiler, head of Basel-based practice HHF, to foster social interaction.
The structure comprises pink, red and fuchsia coloured geometric blocks that, when slotted together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, form a small gabled house.
Each block is weighted so that they require more than one person to carry them, which the architects hope will encourage visitors to talk and work collaboratively to assemble the building.
Small groups can climb up and sit on the blocks when they are kept separate, or they can be aligned to create amphitheatre-style seating for large-scale events and talks.
Blocks can also be left out of the house arrangement to form shaded nooks where visitors can rest.
3 Days of Design is held annually in Copenhagen, showcasing the best of Danish design. Last year the event saw Helle Mardahl launch a collection of blown-glass lamps that resemble giant pieces of candy, and furniture brand Menu reissue a mid-century lounge chair designed specifically for knitters.
Interior designer Natalia Sanchéz also created a cosy co-working space that was decked out entirely with pieces from Muuto.
The latest projects by HHF include a pergola-like extension to a traditional Swiss villa in Arlesheim, while BIG has just completed a vortex-shaped education centre in the Faroe Islands.
Bjarke Ingels also recently appeared on the podcast Time Sensitive, where he discussed his aversion to the term "style".
Photography by Kaspar Würgler.