CEBRA is a Danish architectural office founded in 2001 by the architects Mikkel Frost, Carsten Primdahl and Kolja Nielsen.[1] The company headquartered in Aarhus in Denmark and has office in Copenhagen. CEBRA employs a multidisciplinary international staff of 50.
Most of CEBRA's projects are within the fields of culture, residential, education, urban development, interior design, landscape architecture.
Architectural works
The Iceberg
The Iceberg, situated on the outer harbour front of Aarhus' Aarhus Ø district, is a residential project completed between 2008 and 2015, featuring 208 apartments designed to revitalize the former container port into a lively community.[2][3] Designed by CEBRA, JDS, SEARCH, and Louis Paillard, with construction by NCC and engineering by Tækker and Hamiconsult, this award-winning project (MIPIM Award 2013, Architizer A+ Award 2013, ArchDaily Building of the Year 2015) is notable for its four L-shaped wings with jagged lines and varying roof heights, optimizing daylight and views of the bay for most apartments.[4][5][6]
Æbeløgade
Æbeløen, situated in Aarhus' Øgade neighbourhood, was developed by CEBRA from 2016 to 2020 for a private group of investors, earning the MIPIM Award 2022 for Best Residential Development and the Aarhus Municipality Architecture Award 2021.[7][8] The project introduces Æbeløgade, a new street designed to connect the development with the city's botanical garden, employing a design strategy that diverges from conventional residential layouts by incorporating a communal street space. The architectural approach reflects the character of the surrounding area through elements like varied roof pitches, dormer windows, and brick facades, aiming to blend traditional local styles with contemporary design.[9][10]
Skamlingsbanken Visitor Centre
The Skamlingsbanken Visitor Centre, a project led by CEBRA and completed from 2016 to 2021 for Kolding Municipality and associated organizations, is located in Sjølund, Kolding, Denmark, covering an area of 500 m².[11][12] Awarded the Kolding Municipality Architecture Award in 2021, the centre is designed to blend into the natural moraine landscape, offering panoramic views of the Little Belt strait.[13] Its architecture, inspired by the surrounding hills and meadows formed during the last ice age, features a design that integrates the building with the landscape Skamlingsbanken's historical significance as a meeting place.[14]
The Experimentarium
The Experimentarium in Hellerup, Denmark, underwent a significant extension and renovation from 2011 to 2018, led by CEBRA, with engineering by Orbicon. This project transformed the science centre, doubling its exhibition space to include 16 interactive displays, and added a large roof terrace, modern staff facilities with views of the visitor areas, a café, a picnic area, a convention centre, teaching spaces, and workshops.[15] The redesign transformed the Experimentarium from a closed-off building into a welcoming, interactive destination. This change was achieved within the existing building's footprint, a former soft drink bottling plant, requiring the expansion to be carried out within and above the original structure.[16]
In February 2017 the CEBRA-designed Experimentarium was inaugurated, a science center in Hellerup, near Copenhagen.[17]
Nye Masterplan
Nye, a new suburb designed to accommodate 13,500 inhabitants north of Aarhus, is a collaborative project between CEBRA and Tækker, focusing on sustainable urban planning. The masterplan, covering 150 hectares, aims to merge the advantages of dense urban centers with the openness of green suburban areas, guided by principles of Diversity, Life, and Balance. With construction ongoing since 2014, this development emphasizes a balanced approach to urban design, incorporating diverse living spaces, community life, and sustainable practices.[18]
Skovbakke School
The Skovbakke School in Odder, Denmark, designed by CEBRA and completed between 2015 and 2018, serves as both a school for 650 students and a daycare center for 100 children.[19] This project aimed to replace outdated buildings with a unified, modern facility that supports contemporary educational methods by fostering interaction among different learning areas and incorporating physical activity into daily routines. The architectural layout features four staggered sections oriented around a central common space and themed plazas for creative, scientific.[20]
Children’s Home of the Future
The Children's Home of the Future in Kerteminde, Denmark, completed by CEBRA between 2012 and 2014, is an 24-hour care center designed for marginalized children.[21] Embracing the concept of "Our House," CEBRA merged the comforting aspects of traditional homes with fresh perspectives on children's care needs, drawing inspiration from the familiar forms of Danish domestic architecture, such as pitched roofs and dormer windows. The facility is divided into four interconnected sections to maintain a human scale and foster intimate, adaptable living spaces, with distinctive dormer designs.[22][23]
Toons
Sketches by Mikkel Frost
Mikkel Frost, co-founder of CEBRA, integrates hand sketching and 3D visualization into the architectural design process. He views hand-drawn sketches as a way to initiate dialogue and explore concepts, while 3D visualizations provide detailed representations of projects. Frost believes that combining these approaches enhances creativity and communication throughout the design and development stages.[24][25][26]
Watercolours by Mikkel Frost
One of the founding partners, Mikkel Frost, often paints in watercolours cartoonish concepts of some of CEBRA's projects and the whole collection is named "Toons". In autumn 2016 two of these watercolours have been acquired by the Museum for Architectural Drawing in Berlin, Germany.[27]
Publication: “We build drawings”
In 2019, Mikkel Frost published the book "We Build Drawings," showcasing over 200 drawings across 20 sections, each dedicated to a specific CEBRA project. The book includes an index with color photos and renders, demonstrating how these drawings come to life in their architectural works. Additionally, it features a written adaptation of Frost's TEDx talk, "Let Your Fingers Do the Talking," highlighting the importance of drawing as a fundamental tool for creation and communication.[28][29][30]
R&D projects
WISE
In 2019, CEBRA launched a research and development program named WISE (Work, Innovation, Space and Education), focusing on exploring the impact of architecture on lifelong learning. WISE aims to integrate the evolving dynamics of workspace and education sectors to guide the architectural design of spaces that foster learning and technologies. Additionally, the program seeks to link architectural practices with leading concepts from education and entrepreneurship, incorporating insights from sensory stimuli, cognitive psychology, and behaviorism research.[31][32]
Reduction Roadmap
The Reduction Roadmap, initiated in 2022 by architectural firms CEBRA and EFFEKT, along with consulting engineers Artelia, outlines CO2 reduction targets for the Danish housing sector.[33][34][35][36] This initiative aims to ensure activities remain within the planetary boundaries for climate change and are in alignment with Denmark's national commitments to the UN Paris Agreement.[37][38][39]
Also, CEBRA developed the digital tool, Common Sense, which collects data and knowledge about indoor climate and use of rooms. In a pilot project, the tool was tested on 150 workstations in Energinet's office in Fredericia to see how it can create a better physical environment and a more flexible workplace.[40]
Low-carbon case study buildings
Cebra developed several low-carbon case study buildings, exemplifying their commitment to sustainable architecture. This initiative showcases innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector.
MiniCO2
The MiniCO2 Multi-Storey House in Wood is a project completed by CEBRA in collaboration with ONV Architects, Artelia Denmark, Blumer Lehmann, and Egil Rasmussen, funded by Realdania By & Byg. The project aimed to explore sustainable construction methods, resulting in the testing of 23 different bio-based floor and ceiling systems to identify technologies for reducing CO2 emissions. Research led by Artelia found that certain Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and ribbed deck configurations could reduce CO2 emissions by 55-70% compared to conventional hollow-core slabs, while adhering to strict sound and fire safety regulations.[41][42][43]
Villa 1
Villa 1 is a project featuring single-family and semi-detached houses, designed by CEBRA with a focus on utilizing bio-based materials including wood, clay, seagrass, and straw. The project is a collaborative effort between CEBRA as the architect and MT Højgaard Property Development as the developer.[44][45]
International works
Al Hosn, UAE
The landscape project at Qasr Al Hosn Fort in Abu Dhabi, designed by CEBRA, integrates the site's historical heritage with modern urban life.[46] It employs sustainable design practices that are appropriate for the local climate and culture, contributing to the park's aesthetic and functionality. This project aims to promote sustainable urban growth while preserving and highlighting the area's cultural and historical importance.[47][48]
Mount Tirana, Albania
The Mount Tirana project, developed by CEBRA for Nova Construction 2012 and currently underway, is set to become a prominent urban landmark in Tirana, Albania. Drawing inspiration from the country's rugged mountains, this multifunctional tower aims to reflect Albania's national identity and cultural heritage.[49] Envisioned to be the tallest building in Albania at 205 meters, Mount Tirana will include residential spaces, commercial areas, a boutique hotel, business offices, parking, and dining venues, embodying the natural beauty.[50][51]
The Sam Ibrahim Building, Canada
The Sam Ibrahim Building, previously known as the UTSC Instructional Centre Phase 2 (IC-2), is under development at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC), with a projected completion by 2024. This 19,300 m² facility, designed by CEBRA and ZAS, with landscape architecture by LAND Inc. and engineering by Thornton Tomasetti, The Mitchell Partnership, HH Angus, and MGM Consulting, aims to create a cross-disciplinary educational environment. The design focuses on fostering active learning and social interaction among students and faculty by integrating classrooms, student services, and public spaces into a cohesive landscape.
Vjosa Wild River Visitor Centres, Albania
Starting in 2023, CEBRA, alongside UNO Architects and with engineering by ARUP, is designing a visitor centre in Tepelenë and information stations in Përmet and Vlorë for the new 13,000-hectare Vjosa Wild River National Park in Albania, Europe's first protected wild river area. The designs, inspired by the natural landscape of soil and water, feature concrete slabs and natural rocks to mimic the river's surroundings.
New Skenderbeu Stadium, Albania
In Korça, Albania, a project led by CEBRA and UNO Architects, with contributions from artist Naxhi Bakalli and building estimator Elvis Uku, and engineering by ARUP, is underway as of 2023 to redevelop the existing football stadium into the new Skenderbeu Stadium. This development, part of a broader master plan, aims to transform the area into a lively neighborhood with a capacity of 10,000 seats featuring club-colored red seats to enhance match day experiences.
Smart School
The Smart School project in Irkutsk, Russia, designed by CEBRA and completed from 2015 to 2020, merges educational buildings and natural landscapes into a cohesive learning environment. It serves 1,040 students aged 3 to 18, featuring a variety of educational and public facilities, including a special section for orphans and children with disabilities.[52][53][54]
Selected awards
CEBRA has received a number of international awards. Among them:
2024 – The Reduction Roadmap receives the Lille Arne for an outstanding architectural initiative[55]
