By DOMINIC LUTYENS
URBAN RIGGER®’s floating residential buildings were designed in cooperation with the Danish architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to alleviate the housing shortage in the city and provide accommodation for over 70 students.
Its compact, light-filled apartments boast enviable harbour views – and BoConcept’s stylish, space-saving furniture
URBAN RIGGER® aims to be self-sufficient and sustainable, for example some of its furnishings are made of recycled materials and its heating system draws heat from the seawater on which the structure floats, using a technology called Hydro Source Heating. This has several advantages, including providing a higher heat-transfer rate than heat sourced from the ground.
URBAN RIGGER® worked with BoConcept on the interiors and furnishings. ‘We required a solution which involved close co-operation with a design company,’ says Peter Mayntzhusen. ‘When we approached BoConcept, we could feel the company’s passion for its work, which is very like ours. From a commercial perspective, BoConcept’s furniture is of a high durable quality and we like its simplicity. The furniture also sharply contrasts with the raw materials on URBAN RIGGER®.’
Other spaces in URBAN RIGGER®, all conducive to living and studying, are furnished with BoConcept’s communal tables
BoConcept’s furniture also satisfies the genuine desire for sustainability. ‘The sofas in the common areas are made of recycled polyester, which goes hand in hand with the original ideas of URBAN RIGGER®,’ says Peter Mayntzhusen. Furthermore, BoConcept based their interior designs on space-saving furniture, including the functional Billund table, just to name one.
More URBAN RIGGER® structures are in development in other city harbours. They are a perfect match with BoConcept’s ‘glocal’, scalable approach: it can provide high volumes of furniture around the world, while remaining true to its heritage and remaining sensitive to different contexts and cultural needs.