LYNGBY CITY HALL

LYNGBY CITY HALL, KGS. LYNGBY, DENMARK

Lyngby City Hall (1939-1941), designed by Hans Erling Langkilde and Ib Martin Jensen, is a striking landmark with its six stories and concave façade clad in Greenlandic marble. The top floor, slightly set back, is enveloped in copper, giving the building its distinctive silhouette. In 2024, the city hall underwent a complete renovation led by ERIK Architects. As a listed building, the project required great respect for the original design, and previous modifications that had obscured the architectural essence were removed to restore its purity and original intent.

The renovation can be described as architectural detective work. Original drawings from the Royal Danish Academy’s archives, old photographs, and building descriptions from the Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality’s collections formed the foundation. ERIK Architects state that the process was about reopening the building and reestablishing its original logic. For instance, the ground floor was freed from partitions and installations, allowing the stucco-marbled columns to once again stand out as a tactile architectural feature.

Archive images revealed that the originally used uplight luminaires in the foyer also functioned as downlights. This knowledge was utilized to recreate historically accurate wall luminaires in collaboration with Okholm Lighting. New glass, precise measurements, discreet wall mounts, and concealed wiring have resulted in elegant and authentic lighting that once again highlights the arcades. In the foyer area, the iconic column luminaires were also recreated, ensuring that the architectural structure and monumental elements are brought to the forefront.

As a tribute to the original material aesthetics, Okholm Lighting’s Linaa downlight in brass was chosen for niches and restrooms, harmonizing with the city hall’s other brass details.

The result is a renovation that has been met with great recognition. Lyngby City Hall now stands as an example of how historical qualities can be both preserved and made relevant. This careful approach demonstrates that architectural development is not just about modernization but also about safeguarding the original vision and creating a meaningful dialogue between past design principles and contemporary needs.

Client: Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality
Architect: ERIK Architects
Custom Lighting: Okholm Lighting
Consulting Engineer: Søren Jensen Consulting Engineers A/S
Contractor: Jakon A/S