Postgården

Postgården is an example of how, through careful renovation and by employing simple yet bold measures, it is possible to transform a largely unused historic property in the middle of the city into a vibrant and welcoming building, that now opens up onto the street and plays an active role in the urban life.

The former royal post office is an iconic building with a long and fascinating past, going back to 1780. As a post office and distribution centre, Postgården was the daily workplace for 700 men and women, who sorted the post before delivering it on bicycles. Back then, the building was a bustling and integrated part of Købmagergade in Copenhagen. Since then, the building has stood almost empty – and at the time it was bought by the current owner – our client – only 40 employees remained.

800 jobs have been created

Based on a thorough analysis of the building’s potential and its surroundings, it was decided to rebuild the property to create a new framework for a number of businesses, showrooms and retail outlets. Today, Postgården is home to leading Danish furniture and design brands such as Fritz Hansen and Fredericia Furniture as well as companies like Unity, Momondo and ARKET. Following the revitalization of the building, a stream of people arrive daily. With the transformation, 800 new jobs have been created in the building, making it a buzzing part of the street again.

A vibrant and open building

The project’s main architectural thrust has been to open up the introverted property towards the city with large, open shopfronts on the ground floor. On the other floors, spacious leasehold offices have been established with plenty of natural daylight, while the roof levels have been enlarged and turned into common recreational outdoor areas for the building’s employees.

When renovating Postgården, a conscious decision was made not to completely change the look of the building. Through studying the old drawings, the building’s qualities have been preserved, and while respecting the architecture and its history, it has been sensitively adapted to meet modern requirements.

A sustainable transformation

In the transformation of Postgården, the buildings have been environmentally sanitized internally. All installations have been replaced – including ventilation and heating systems – which has resulted in overall energy savings of 15 – 20%. All lighting systems have been replaced with LED sources with motion detectors and daylight control, which has resulted in energy savings of 25 – 40%.

The project has been developed in close consultation with our client, PFA Ejendomme. Due to the building’s age, the project has been challenging and therefore continuously developed – this has only been possible in constructive dialogue between the Danish authorities, the Danish conservation authority, the project advisors and the many specialized craftsmen. In the process Sweco’s architects have been the connecting link between the project partners, making the unique and complex project a reality on behalf of our client.

Today, Postgården is once again bursting with life and activity and giving something back to the city. The formerly rather quiet stretch of Købmagergade has been transformed into a natural and integrated part of the surrounding urban scene, directly linked to the main pedestrian shopping street Strøget.

Ensuring sustainable development while respecting cultural heritage

Sweco offers expertise in transformation architecture by blending historical preservation with modern design.

With a multidisciplinary team, Sweco can provide tailored solutions that balance functional requirements with the unique characteristics of each site, fostering a respectful relationship between existing structures and new developments.

Read more about Sweco’s offer within transformation architecture.