Danish architecture is internationally acclaimed because it is the perfect blend of the aesthetic and utilitarian. To put it very simply, Danish buildings not only look good but are designed in such a manner that all space is fully utilized. Denmark is home to a number of multi-functional and unique structures, ranging from residential buildings that allow home owners to cycle all the way up to their homes to elephant houses that give visitors the opportunity to scale rooftops.

The following are the top five famous buildings in Denmark. If you visit the country, you simply cannot leave without seeing the following.

8 House

A residential project launched by BIG, 8 House is famous for the cycle path that goes all the way up to the tenth floor from the ground floor. BIGs third project, 8 House has two sloping green roofs that serve to reduce heat and create the sense of moving from the neighboring farmlands to the heart of the city. While the upper floors of 8 House comprise beautiful houses, its lower floors comprise office spaces.

Black Diamond, Copenhagen

The Black Diamond, a part of the Royal Library, was completed in 1999. This shiny building with its black facets truly resembles a diamond. Its faces reflect the sky and the sea at the harbor front.

The building comprises an atrium that is separated by an incision. It connects the sea, the city, and the new and old library buildings. Iron girders that weigh around one metric ton/meter support the glass façade of the Black Diamond. If you look up at the ceiling, you will see a 200-meter painting by Per Kirkeby.

The Black Diamond has a bookshop, the National Museum of Photography, a café, a restaurant, and a theatre and concert hall with the capacity to hold 600 people.

The Iceberg

The Iceberg is a cluster of residential blocks that resemble icebergs. Each block has 200 apartments and each “iceberg” has a different height so that the residents of the apartments get plenty of natural light. The Iceberg is a joint residential project taken up by Louis Paillard, SEARCH, CEBRA, and JDS. The residential blocks not only have apartment houses, but also penthouse and townhouses.

The Koncerthuset

The Koncerthuset became ready for public use in 2009. Its designer was Jean Nouvel, the winner of the Pritzker Prize. It is heavily influenced by the architectural designs of Hans Sharoun and Theodor Lauritzen. Nouvel’s intention was to create a structure that blended perfectly with its environment without giving viewers any clue as to what was happening inside it.

According to the designer, the interior of the Koncerthuset is diversified and complex, featuring a street flanked by shops and ending into a bar and restaurant. The interior is full of surprises and contrasts. Many people visit the Koncerthuset just to admire its architectural beauty.

Portland Towers

Nordhavn has a number of architectural wonders and Portland Towers happens to be one of them. Rising to a height of 52 meters, the Portland Towers are among the tallest structures in Nordhavn.

Formerly industry silos constructed in 1979 to store cement, the Portland Towers have now been transformed into an ultra-modern structure with offices.

When the industry silos were transformed in 2014, the new office buildings were constructed along their exterior, at a height of 24 meters from the ground level. The stairs, elevator, and reception were constructed within the silos. To get a panoramic view of Copenhagen, you have to visit the canteen.

The interior of Portland Towers is not accessible to the public, but that shouldn’t stop you from admiring its exterior, which is just as amazing.