Projects

Whilst working as Chief City Architect in the City of Aarhus, I collaborated with many different teams with highly specialised people, both from within the organisation

as well as many external consultants. Here is a small selection of projects which I had the pleasure of contributing:

Summerhouse Ulbækhusvej, 7120 Vejle

This house is located in a highly sensitive and protected forest in the vicinity of Ulbækhusvej on the northern banks of Vejle Fjord. The design nestles into the sloping site taking advantage of the suns cycle, beautiful views and at the same time being as humble as possible by not attracting attention to itself. The house is built up around a massive oven which provides heat for the house itself as well hot water. Recently new terraces have been added.

Urup Hovedgård

Urup Hovedgård timber clad barn located at the main entrance is carefully positioned between an avenue of precious old trees and an existing drystone wall. The combination of back coloured horisontal timber cladding combined with the traditional red coloured tiled roof is a gentle and quiet addition to this location. These two existing long outbuildings have been totally renovated after a storm with new steel structures and red tiled roofs. Keep it simple and humble are the main drives behind this projects.

House in Risskov

Built in 1930 this small summer bungalow, the new owner wanted to safeguard its original qualities by repairing, restoring, reconfiguring it and at the same time add a light weight transparent timber box on top. The client was inspired by Californian beach house feel, which inspired such a design. Folding, sliding shutters provide both solar shading and privacy when desired. From the first floor extensive 180 degree views over Aarhus Bay. After 24 years, the wood cladding is still weathering beautifully, becoming one with the coastal landscape.

City of Westminster College, Paddington Green, London

This design is the result of an International architecture competition in 2006 and completed in 2011. Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects were lead designers where founding partner Morten Schmidt together with former partner Stephen Willacy and architects Jim Dorsett, Elif Tinaztepe, Jessica Mentz and Mark Jeffs worked intensely in collaboration with Buro Happold, Knight Frank LLP, State LLP and built by McLaren Construction Ltd in a Novated Design Build Contract.

This approximately 27,000 m2 campus supports a highly divers cohort of students, approx.

7,000 at the time of design, with 47 different nationalties of students. The College is a provider of post-16 education for both part-time and full students and delivers a wide range of courses in the London Borough of Westminster.

Awards 2011, World Architecture Festival, nomineret i Learning kategorien 2011, nominated to The Concrete Society Awards/ 2011, RIBA Award/ 2011, New London Award

Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects (SHL) won this project in an international competition in 2006 and completed in 2012 and officially opened by Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II.

SHL were lead consultant where founding Morten Schmidt together with Partner Stephen Willacy and architects Stuart Hill, Mette Dalsgaard Hansen, Arthur Viveiros, and Giorgia Tzika led the design team consisting of Arup & Partners Engineers and Quantity Surveyors Davis Langdon LLP

Lake District, Cumbria

Working with highly sensitive heritage sites in the Lake District, England is a wonderful challenge. One which, we have enjoyed over a period of 40 years. Converting old farms and barn buildings into homes by reusing the main structures, upcycling materials from other buildings in the vicinity. D.H. Willacy & Sons have been builders for the last 171 years and continue to collect old materials like, oak timber beams, Lakeland stone and Westmorland roofing slate from dilapidated barns and old properties and reusing them in these projects and new build on these sensitive sites. “Its basic common sense, working with these wonderful heritage buildings by using old materials and giving them new life”. says Mark Willacy the 5^th generation builder.

Photographer: Gracie Willacy

Learn more trough publications and articles

Articles and Publications