Coworking spaces have become popular in the Nordics, but few of them are focused on a certain vertical. Torben Klitgaard, director of BLOXHUB, describes the unique initiative from Denmark. It invites architects, designers, contractors, and tech companies to create better cities.
“BLOXHUB is an urban innovation lab; it’s a coworking space and community providing a platform for companies within the open built environment,” Kitgaard says.
BLOXHUB was founded on June 3, 2016, by Realdania; the City of Copenhagen; and the Ministry of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs. The hub’s premises are part of the massive BLOX development project on Copenhagen’s harbor front.
Among other functions, the BLOX building is also home to the Danish Architecture Centre’s exhibitions. The complex includes new public spaces, a harbor promenade, bridges, a café/restaurant with canal side terrace, fitness center, apartments and a playground for young and old. BLOX is OMA’s (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) first project in Denmark. It opened on May 6, 2018.
A Co-Working Space for an Ecosystem
BLOXHUB has about 10,000 square meters of brand new space and roughly 500 desks, of which 20 percent are dedicated to startup companies. Klitgaard expects 50 to 60 companies to be residents and about 150 companies to be part of the community.
Matchmaking is the core competence of BLOXHUB. “We want to create an ecosystem of built environment stakeholders: startups, SMEs, and corporations,” says Klitgaard. BLOXHUB hosts programs for business development, acceleration, and innovation challenges.
The hub’s ultimate mission is to help Danish companies dealing with urban issues to work closer together, work on projects, and collaborate in order to grow.
For more information on BLOXHUB, visit bloxhub.org
Meet Torben at WDBE 2018
Torben will be presenting at World Summit on Digital Built Environment WDBE 2018, an event that will showcase a unique portfolio of ideas, projects, and businesses from the digital forefront of design, construction, property and real estate. The event takes place in Helsinki, Finland, on September 11-12, 2018.
The title photo is courtesy of Copenhagen Media Center, the photographer is Dragør Luftfoto
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