KRARUPSVEJ

Slender access balcony elements in Ultra High Performance Concrete provide functional access areas and enhance the façade expression

Build Year

2024-2026

Architect

Krabbe Vang Arkitekter

Entrepreneur

Knudsgaard A/S

Engineer

Akademiingeniør Svend Poulsen A/S

Builder

Boligselskabet Fruehøjgaard

A NEW RESIDENTIAL AREA

At Krarupsvej in Herning, Denmark, also known as Tinggården, a new residential area has been developed with 39 modern social housing units and a grocery store. The project consists of two connected building volumes, where the architecture has been designed with a focus on creating a vibrant and welcoming environment for residents.

The homes are organized around a shared courtyard, where the building’s access balcony elements play a central role in the overall expression. The access balconies serve as an important architectural feature, contributing life and variation to the façade. At the same time, they function as access routes, which places clear demands on both structural performance and fire safety.

It was therefore crucial to find a solution that could combine functional access conditions with a slender façade expression, while ensuring a robust construction that meets current fire regulations and provides a reliable, long-term solution.

For this task, Hi-Con was selected to develop and deliver access balcony elements in Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC).

“This is a project where we have truly been able to utilize the strengths of UHPC. Close collaboration with the contractor from the start made it possible to develop a solution that works structurally while also giving the building a light and modern expression. The access balcony elements are large and distinctive, so it has been a special experience to see them lifted into place.”

Birgitte Krag Festersen,

Head of Desgn Studio

HI-CON’S ACCESS BALCONY SOLUTION

For Krarupsvej, Hi-Con delivered 29 access balcony elements in Ultra High Performance Concrete, including 22 elements with ribs and 7 without. The elements have a slab thickness between 106 and 130 mm, making it possible to achieve a slender construction without compromising strength and functionality.

In addition, the delivery includes 28 L-columns supporting the access balconies. The columns are approximately 3 meters high and 1.5 meters long and form an integrated part of the building’s architectural expression.

The access balcony elements contribute to a façade with rhythm and dynamism, while also functioning as safe access areas for residents.

UHPC is a non-combustible material that meets fire safety requirements for access routes without the need for additional fire protection or increased thickness. This makes it possible to maintain slender dimensions while ensuring safety.

The close dialogue between Hi-Con and the contractor throughout the project has also helped ensure a solution that is both architecturally well-resolved and practical to execute on site. The contractor also highlights the constructive and positive collaboration that characterized the process.