The Touchpoint

This course is the second of two Exploration Studios in the sequence of design studios in the Master of Architecture program. It builds on the competencies developed in the previous Integration Studios and bridges to the final Research Studio or Thesis options in the final two-quarters of the program. The Scan Design Foundation Architecture Studio provides graduate students in the UW Department of Architecture with the opportunity to work with the best architects practicing in Denmark today. The studio is co-taught by the Scan Design Foundation Distinguished Visiting Professor, who is appointed each year based on a sustained record of excellence in practice. The studio will be co-taught this year by the 2024 Scan Design Foundation Distinguished Visiting Professor Trine Harboe, a partner at Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter in Copenhagen.

ARCH 506: Copenhagen SCAN Design Studio
Instructor: Peter Cohen | Trine Hedeager Harboe
Narrative
Tucked within Nordvest, the addition to Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects’ office emerges as a subtle intervention. The site, steeped in its industrial past, is anchored by a weathered brick wall—its surface marked by traces of a former auto shop, from faded paint to rusted tools left behind. This wall is a testament to the site’s memory and now forms the heart of the architectural expansion.
The addition unfolds around a central courtyard, where a glass façade creates a seamless connection between the workspace and the surrounding landscape. On warmer days, the courtyard becomes a natural extension of the office—a gathering space for lunches or celebrations. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors blur the line between inside and out, inviting fresh air and transforming the courtyard into a lively retreat as the week winds down.
The new structure reaches out gently, its frame leaning into the historic wall carefully, establishing a dialogue between the old and the new. This connection is further emphasized by the materiality of the new rear wall, its contrasting textures quietly asserting the layers of history embedded in the site. The addition “lightly touches” the existing office preserves and celebrates the enduring industrial heart of the site, weaving the past and present into a shared narrative. Within the building, storage for working models is placed along corridors near the historic brick wall, bridging the narrative between the site’s industrious past and its present role as a creative studio. 
The roof gently slopes toward the courtyard, welcoming southern light that spills into the outdoor space. The roofline respects the scale of its surroundings, harmonizing with the industrial fabric of the neighborhood. The design embodies Lundgaard & Tranberg’s ethos of sympathizing with the site’s history and environment, creating a space that feels both grounded and enduring.
GESTURAL SKETCH
PRESENTATION PACKAGE
MASSING DIAGRAMS
SITE MODEL 1:100
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
EW SECTION
WEST ELEVATION
TECTONIC MODEL 1:25
PERSPECTIVES
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