Brogård's Square

Location: Albertslund, Denmark
Client: Municipality of Albertslund
Team: Stig L. Andersson, Stine Poulsen
Collaborators: Lighting is designed in corporation with consultant engineers Hansen & Henneberg
Design phase: 2001
Construction: 2001
Area: 900 m2
Cost of construction: 100.000 €

Brogård’s Square in Albertslund has been resolved according to a model for refurbishment and restoration of a local square, that follows the principle of least possible intervention with the largest possible effect. A change that creates new aesthetic assets, and which is based on the existing qualities of the place.

Knud Brogaard, who has lived at Brogaards Square since it was first made - and whom it was named after - gives his oppinion on the revitalisation.

The interview was made as a part of the exhibition 'Wunderstadt" at Galerie Aedes, Berlin, in the winter 2005-2006. The picture and text on the right was a post card, which was available on the exhibition.

Read more about the exhibition here

With a few simple means, the ambiance of the square has changed. New furniture has been introduced and the square defined with concrete walls and made green with ivies and honeysuckle. In the evening the square changes character. By means of light fixtures sunk into the surface the concrete slabs are illuminated and the climbing plants accentuated. Further, by delineating an existing circle of trees with uplights the extent of the evening space is defined.

Identity, the human scale and city squares were the turning points for the development of Albertslund in the 1970’s. Brogårds Square should be seen as an addition to this development. The name of the square, for example, cannot be found on the city map, but the place and the name have come about through the resident’s ownership of the city space, a practice that SLA with its project has wanted to support. Brogård refers to Knud Brogård, who has lived there since the square was built.

This is a viev of Brogårds Square before the renovation.