Kingo Houses
Encyclopedia
Kingo Houses is a housing development designed by architect Jørn Utzon
in Helsingor, Denmark
. The development consists of 63 L-shaped houses based upon the design of traditional Danish farmhouses with central courtyards and that of Chinese and Islamic dwellings.
Named after the developer Boligselskabet Kingo, the housing is currently known as Romerhusene (English: Roman houses).
, starting modestly with one unit and proceeding from there, taking into account the lie of the land and the surroundings. Utzon described the arrangement of the houses as "flowers on the branch of a cherry tree, each turning towards the sun."
Each unit has an area of 15 by 15 m (49.2 by 49.2 ft), enclosed on two sides by the L-shaped house, and by walls on the other two sides. The small size of the units makes them not only economical but also easily adaptable to the natural terrain. The limited size of the private area is compensated by the provision of a large landscaped communal space. Each house has a courtyard with two wings, one for living, the other for sleeping. Utzon set the exact amount of bricks to be used for the courtyard walls but he told the bricklayers they should build each house individually, catering for privacy, shade, view and enclosure. Built with state funding, the houses were limited to 104 sqm per three-bed unit.
, one of the most perfect 20th century brick-built housing developments. They have been called the finest Scandinavian example of humane housing.
Jørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon, , AC was a Danish architect, most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon became only the second person to have received such recognition for one of his works during his lifetime...
in Helsingor, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The development consists of 63 L-shaped houses based upon the design of traditional Danish farmhouses with central courtyards and that of Chinese and Islamic dwellings.
History
The design of the Kingo Houses was based on a competition project Utzon had developed for the south of Sweden in 1953. Although he did not obtain a commission in Sweden, the mayor of Helsingør liked his idea and provided land for Utzon to realize his project.Named after the developer Boligselskabet Kingo, the housing is currently known as Romerhusene (English: Roman houses).
Design
The development is based on Utzon's additive approachAdditive Architecture
Additive Architecture is an approach used by Danish architect Jørn Utzon to describe his development of architectural projects on the basis of growth patterns in nature....
, starting modestly with one unit and proceeding from there, taking into account the lie of the land and the surroundings. Utzon described the arrangement of the houses as "flowers on the branch of a cherry tree, each turning towards the sun."
Each unit has an area of 15 by 15 m (49.2 by 49.2 ft), enclosed on two sides by the L-shaped house, and by walls on the other two sides. The small size of the units makes them not only economical but also easily adaptable to the natural terrain. The limited size of the private area is compensated by the provision of a large landscaped communal space. Each house has a courtyard with two wings, one for living, the other for sleeping. Utzon set the exact amount of bricks to be used for the courtyard walls but he told the bricklayers they should build each house individually, catering for privacy, shade, view and enclosure. Built with state funding, the houses were limited to 104 sqm per three-bed unit.
Influence
The Kingo Houses formed a prototype for Utzon's second courtyard housing project, the Fredensborg HousesFredensborg Houses
The Fredensborg Houses form a housing complex in natural surroundings on the outskirts of the small town of Fredensborg in the north of Zealand, Denmark. The houses were designed by Jørn Utzon for Danes who have worked for long periods abroad....
, one of the most perfect 20th century brick-built housing developments. They have been called the finest Scandinavian example of humane housing.