Copenhagen’s residents can now vote for their favourite building

The Danish capital will announce the winner of the Building Award on 5 May

Since 1903, the Danish capital has been awarding buildings and other urban developments each year. In 2018, it decided to modernise the awards, allowing its residents to cast their votes. Thus, for the fifth year in a row, the municipality is now asking citizens to choose which of its buildings deserves to receive the Building Award for 2021.

“The building award is a great tradition, where we pay tribute to the buildings, urban environments and facilities that add value for Copenhageners in new ways. This type of construction makes a difference and plays an important role in urban development in Copenhagen. We must remember to praise that. Therefore, I also hope that Copenhageners will go in and give their opinion, so we can award the good examples," commented the Mayor for Culture and Leisure, Mia Nyegaard.

Vote for one of seven buildings

This year, the municipality selected 7 buildings from the 36 which were originally nominated. As such, the 2021 nominees are: 

1. Skoleholdervej
2. KAB Huset
3. Ny Østergade 30
4. Remiseparken
5. Friluftsskolen
6. Oehlenschlægergades Skole 
7. Filmlageret

Citizens will be able to vote for their favourite building on kk.dk/bygningspraemiering until 29 April. On this website, they can also listen to a podcast where the Mayor for Culture and Leisure discusses the nominated buildings alongside the city architect Camilla van Deurs and the city planner Peter Schultz Jørgensen. The municipality will then announce the winner of the Building Award 2021 on 5 May. 

With this award, the Danish capital recognises the importance of architecture and how it contributes to the city’s development. Here, it must also be noted that UNESCO and the Union of Architects UIA selected Copenhagen as the World Capital of Architecture for 2023. Subsequently, the capital is preparing to celebrate the ‘Year of Architecture’ next year. 

View the 7 nominees in the gallery above.