A-House Courtyard

A-House was originally designed in 1960 by Thorvald Dreyer as an “office hotel” and has undergone numerous transformations throughout the years.

In 2020, HighBrook Investors acquired the building and initiated extensive upgrades to both the building and the surrounding courtyard. Today A-House consists of exclusive rental apartments.

MASU Planning has transformed the courtyard in collaboration with WE Architecture.

Multiple landscape elements

Before the transformation project, the courtyard had a rather sterile appearance due to its large wooden surfaces and little planting. Now, the new landscape consists of multiple elements, such as wood decking, planting, gravel pathways and small islands where people can relax and meet each other.

Enhance the A-shape of the building

Viewed from above, the landscape resembles an abstract painting that complements the building’s distinctive A-shaped geometry. At night, specific lighting emphasizes this striking atmosphere.

A new planting scheme introduces diverse urban nature through rich planting beds, creating a lush atmosphere and a sequence of spaces. Furthermore, the hilly character and vegetation divide the courtyard into zones with differing privacy.

The planting ensures seasonal variation with multiple textures and sensory impressions that change the A-House perception throughout the year. 

The landscape contributes to DGNB Platinum certification

As the first refurbished building in Denmark, A-House has gained a DGNB Platinum certification for Buildings in Use.

The DGNB Platinum certification was given due to numerous initiatives such as information screens monitoring and displaying tenants’ use of water, heat and electricity. Also, a system for collecting rainwater that is used to water the courtyard environment, improved bicycle facilities and 30 electric car charging stations, and a comprehensive renovation of the roof garden and the courtyard transformation has contributed to the certification.