Henning Larsen - Copper Concept

Architectural Copper Review | 2005 / 2
tural feature of the opera house.
But you didn’t resign from the opera
project? – The contract with Møller
bound me hand to foot, I could not get
out. The contract states specifically that
the commissioner makes the decisions.
Møller threatened to sue, which would
have ruined me and put my staff of more
than one hundred people out of work.
Møller is a ship-owner and knows a lot
about ships and finances, but nothing
about architecture, Larsen says bitterly.
The much fought-over building is now
completed and inaugurated. The news-
paper Berlinske Tidene raves about the
opera house, however mostly over the
inside, while Politiken calls it ”a hunch-
backed creation. The overall design is a
patchwork without originality”. In the
urban landscape the building is intrusive,
an over dimensioned block. The pre-
dominate glass facade with its steel
8
strips is nicknamed ”the Grille” and ”the
Toaster”. In spite of this, the opera has
been awarded several prizes for its
architecture. – I’m hoping to some time
in the future be able to remove the
disgraceful steel strips on the glass
facade. I will not be satisfied until that
happens, says Larsen.
Hired a lawyer
Wise from bad experiences with med-
dling commissioners, entrepreneurs and
politicians, Henning Larsens Tegnestue
has now hired a lawyer in order to
create contracts and agreements based
on the architect’s terms. Entrepreneur,
commissioner and architect always
work closely together and there is
always a risk for conflicts. It is impor-
tant to solve problems right away,
before they get out of hand.
Mekoprint, Støvring, Denmark
Söders Tower viewed from the park. The winning proposal for Söders Tower in Stockholm, 40
floors, 140 meters tall. (Turning Torso in Malmö is 190 meters tall and has 54 floors.) The Tower
was reduced to 23 floors.
Have you seen results of this? – We
Plan for the Stockholm University proposal
have more international projects today,
and the contract is then extremely
important. We have already noticed the
benefits with having our own lawyer. As
an architect you are a creative visionary,
often with your head up in the blue. The
lawyer stands firmly with both feet on
the ground and makes sure that we
avoid serious conflict of interest.
When Larsen creates
To sketch is typical for Larsen. The
blackboard is full of sketches. They are
his tools in the creation process.
How does your mind work and where
do you get your ideas? – My upbringing
has shaped my life and the way I think. I
learned practical thinking while being
apprentice to a carpenter and getting my
diploma, and theoretical thinking in my
architectural studies. Also my religious
upbringing has shaped me. My father