Urban Rigger
In September 2016, the architecture firm BIG, led by Bjarke Ingels, revealed their designs for low-cost student accommodation.
Urban Rigger involves stacking shipping containers on a floating platform to create a student halls of residence, docked in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark.
As a concept, Urban Rigger aims to provide a solution to the 24,000 students who are without residences in Denmark according to the Danish Construction and Housing Ministry. This is only one part of a wider problem, with estimates showing a need for 130,000 more homes by 2020 due to increased urbanisation and population.
Urban Rigger comprises 9 shopping containers which create 15 studio residences over two levels. The idea is that the structure is flexible, mobile and carbon neutral.
The blocks are angled with overlapping ends so as to frame a shared garden in the centre of the platform. The containers are connected by glazed, greenhouse-like spaces. The corrugated metal blocks are painted a bright aquamarine and fitted with windows and entry points.
Each of the upper floor container’s flat roofs have a different function; one provides a terrace, the other has been installed with solar panels, and the other is covered in grass.
BIG partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann said: "In terms of sea level rise... it's the only building type that will never flood. There are few strategies that allow cities to expand. Yet, Copenhagen's harbour remains an under-utilised and underdeveloped area at the heart of the city. By introducing a building typology optimised for harbour cities we can introduce a housing solution that will keep students at the heart of the city."
Images courtesy of Urban Rigger.
For more information, see [[w/index.php?title=W/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DW/index.php%3Ftitle%3DWww.urbanrigger.com%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1%26action%3Dedit%26redlink%3D1&action=edit&redlink=1|Urban Rigger]].
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.