VIDEO: Dorte Mandrup-Transformations

Dorte Mandrup was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner. Camera: Simon Weyhe, Edited by Simon Wehye, Music: Simon Dokkedal, Sound Mix: Torsten Larsen, Sound Everest, Colour Grade: Klaus Elmer, Produced by Marc-Christoph Wagner & Simon Wehye, © Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2021, Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet and C.L. Davids Fond og Samling. This film is supported by Dreyersfond and RealdaniaMeet the award-winning Danish architect Dorte Mandrup who here reflects upon the nature of transforming existing spaces. “What’s vital in working with transformations is to have an understanding of parallelisms. You don’t need to change everything.”

At the time, Dorte Mandrup is working on converting an existing industrial Tunnel Factory in the northern part of the Copenhagen harbour into a new urban ecosystem of sharing, community, and innovation. In the past, she has done similar projects – most prominently with the Munkegaard School in Gentofte, initially designed by legendary Arne Jakobsen, as well as the Water Tower in Jægersborg that has been converted into student apartments. Both projects are featured in this video.

“The minimal home is interesting. What does it require, not just for you to be able to eat, sleep and shower, but what does it require for you to have a good life on 10 m2? What do you dream of? The coupling of basic, of functional needs, emotional needs and mental needs I find it incredibly important.”

Dorte Mandrup (b. 1961) graduated from the Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark, in 1991. Eight years later, she founded her Copenhagen-based studio, where she continues to be Creative Director. As a humanist with a distinct nonconformist outlook, Dorte Mandrup is well known for her commitment to the development of the architectural practice and her frequent participation in public debates. She has won numerous awards – the latest of which are: Member of the RIBA Honours Committee 2021, Architect of the Year at ICONIC Awards 2021, Visiting Professor at Mendrisio Accademia di Architettura, Switzerland, AZ Awards 2020 for Environmental Leadership, Canada, Kunstpreis Berlin by the Academy of Arts, Chairwoman of the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award 2019. In 2018 her Icefjord Centre in Ilulissat, Greenland, was part of the curated international exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia. In 2022 Dorte was elected a member of one of Europe’s oldest and most important cultural institutions, Akademie der Künste in Berlin. She has also been named Monocle’s Architect of the year.

Dorte Mandrup was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner. Camera: Simon Weyhe, Edited by Simon Wehye, Music: Simon Dokkedal, Sound Mix: Torsten Larsen, Sound Everest, Colour Grade: Klaus Elmer, Produced by Marc-Christoph Wagner & Simon Wehye, © Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2021, Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet and C.L. Davids Fond og Samling. This film is supported by Dreyersfond and Realdania