Kim Herforth Nielsen on Architecture and Travel

Interview Date: 14-09-2011

What is the importance of architectural tourism?

It is very important that we as architects learn from each other and I think that this arrangement here at the WAF is very important for the understanding between people.

What is the importance of traveling, especially for Architects and humans in general?

It is for everybody of course important but for the architects especially to get inspiration and to learn from what is happening around the world; how people are living, to understand what it’s happening. The same thing is for people. It’s so great to see people from Iran,India, China, Russia and USA talk together like friends do.

What do you think is the added value that Architecture creates within a city?

The most important thing that architecture can do for the city is to add activities between people. There are some new cities that they are not functioning because architects don’t think, they don’t people as the main thing in a design. If architecture can create life between the buildings then it’s a good architecture.

What is the importance of architectural events (like WAF) worldwide? What are the profits for a city holding such kind of major events?

The importance as I said before is that it makes a broader understanding between people from different nations. We can learn from each other, everybody can learn from everybody. There’s always something happening in the other end of the world that we can learn from and it is very important for a city like Barcelona to have this event here because it puts Barcelona as a focus for the whole architectural organization worldwide.

At the end, can you please provide your personal proposal of 10 buildings (constructed and visitable) which you think as the most important worldwide that someone must visit anyway?

My favorite building has nothing to do with the sustainability. It’s more like a big beautiful sculpture; la Ronchamp church by Le Corbusier It’s always been my favorite building because it’s so beautiful, but it’s not in the category of what you said. It could be the library in Seattle for example; it’s a great building that really does something for the city.

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Kim Herforth Nielsen

Architect
Country: Denmark
Visit website

Bio

Architect MAA/RIBA, Kim Herforth Nielsen, born 1954, is Founder and Principal of 3XN. Kim Herforth Nielsen graduated from the Aarhus School of Architecture in 1981 and was one of the three Nielsen-founders in 1986. Ever since he has been the driving force behind 3XN, and been involved in all the practice’s major projects, including The Blue Planet, Kubus in Berlin, Museum of Liverpool, Ørestad College, Muziekgebouw Concert Hall in Amsterdam, the Danish Embassy in Berlin and the Architects’ House in Copenhagen. Kim Herforth Nielsen is often called upon as a jury member in international architectural competitions, and as lecturer at art academies and universities around the world. Kim Herforth Nielsen is a Knight of Dannebrog and has received Denmark’s highest architectural honor, the C.F. Hansen Medaille.Year of birth
1954

Education
Architect MAA, graduated from the Aarhus School of Architecture, 1981.

Position
Founder, Principal, Partner and Artistic Director.

Memberships
Member of Danske ARK (Danish Architects’ Assoc.) Membership no 6427- 280354.
Chartered member of RIBA, UK. Membership number 10953725.
Member of UN Global Compact.

Honorary Office Jury member and Distinctions
Jury member, World Architecture Festival 2008, 2009
Jury member, Architectural Review’s Awards for Emerging Architecture 2006
Jury member, The Architects’ Association of Denmark
External examiner at the Royal Danish Academy of Art
Member of PAR’s Prize Committee
Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
C. F. Hansen Medal – the highest order among architects in Denmark, 2009
Knight of Dannebrog, 2000
The Eckersberg Medaille, 1999
Awards: RIBA (2005, 2007, 2009), Mipim (2004, 2006)

Project Experience
3XN (1986-) selected projects:
• Frederiksberg Courthouse, Copenhagen, DK (2009
• Bridge over Copenhagen Inner Harbour, pedestrian bridges, Copenhagen, DK (2009)
• Dublin Concert Hall, Dublin, IE (2009)
• Daimler, head office, Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, DE (2009)
• Horten, head office, Tuborg Harbour, DK (2006-2009)
• CPH Arch, 2 towers and a bridge, Copenhagen, DK (2008)
• KPMG, head office, Copenhagen, DK (2008-2011)
• Marmormolen, masterplan, Copenhagen, DK, 1. prize (2008)
• The Blue Planet, new Denmark’s Aquarium, Copenhagen, DK, 1. prize (2008-2013)
• Z-Raderna, dwellings, Stockholm, SE, 1. prize (2008-)
• Kubus, Berlin, DE, 1. prize (2007-)
• Theatre and Jazzhouse in Molde, NO, 1. prize. (2007-2011)
• Lighthouse, mixed use, Aarhus, DK, 1. prize (2006-)
• Rainbow, mixed use, Dublin, IE, 2. prize (2006-)
• Bella Hotel, Copenhagen, DK, 1. prize (2006-2011)
• Horsens Stadium, DK, 1. prize (2006-2009)
• Middelfart Savings Bank, DK, 1. prize (2006-2010)
• Stadshuis Nieuwegein, NL (2006-2011)
• Arts and Media Centre, University of Salford, Manchester, UK, 1. prize (2005-)
• Museum of Liverpool, UK, 1. prize (2005-2010)
• Saxo Bank, head office, Tuborg Havn, DK, 1. prize (2005-2008)
• Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam, NL (2005)
• Deloitte Building, Copenhagen, DK (2001-2005)
• Technical School in Tangen, Kristiansand, NO, 1. prize (2004-2009)
• Ørestad College, Copenhagen, DK, 1. prize (2003-2007)
• Alsion, university, science park and concert hall, Sønderborg, DK, 1. prize (2002-2007)
• DFDS Terminal, Copenhagen, DK (2003-2004)
• Danish Embassy in Berlin, DE (1999)
• Architect’s House, Copenhagen, DK (1996)