Christiania attracts a lot of tourists because of its free-spirit culture and open sale of drug, but if you venture further into the area you will find some great experimental architecture, mainly developed under the idea of ‘architecture without architects’. Ordinary building restrictions did not seem to be a consideration in Christiania, and in the area you find futuristic spaceships, sustainable buildings, buildings made out of what material was available during the process, or buildings made from architecture students volunteering to try our new ideas. Now the government try to control the development with impending rules and regulations - such as the new law that nothing new can be built except roofing. The inhabitants solution is to make houses entirely out of roofing…  In the area around Christiania you find some beautiful house boats for inspiration, some small and some matching the size of an ordinary house. Here you can see converted ferries, a three storey boathouse and some that looks like shipping containers. I love exploring this whole area, as it feels like I find new, hidden gems every time I visit, at the same time as being a nice relaxing weekend stroll.
Address
Architecture in Christiania and the houseboats nearby, Sydområdet 22, 1. sal., Copenhagen, Denmark
Current city: London
Other cities: TrondheimCopenhagen
Johanne Lian Olsen is a Graphic Designer working within type design, editorial design and illustration. She is flexing between working at projects in the UK and Norway.
 

More Places in Copenhagen 65

Swimming pool from the 30's. Decorated with mosaic murals by Vilhelm Lundstrøm
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Sometimes it is great to look at surreal looking things to set the imagination going. This is an slightly old-school museum with traditional ways of presenting the wast collection, but I personally like that. This museum is a part of the Natural History Museum of Denmark, and has a permanent exhibition ‘From pole to pole' which show animals from around the world. The collection manifests that there is so much to know about the world and who we share it with, and it really sets your mind working. Get inspired by geometric patterns on seashells, colours of birds or scales of reptilians. The museum has many important remains of recently extinct birds in storage, including the eyes and internal organs of the last two great auks, several specimens of the pied raven, and one of only two known complete skulls of the dods that were taken to Europe in the 17th century.
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A pretty museum located 30 min north from Copenhagen. It has a stunning sea view and beautiful architecture. Here you can explore many exciting exhibitions. They have a great cafe as well. 
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Whenever I feel uninspired I visit the (now genericly named) Design Museum, formerly known as Kunstindustrimuseet. Sort of the V&A of Copenhagen. An old museum filled with gorgeus fabrics, weird artifacts and a cozy library filled with books about arts & crafts from around the world. If you're still uninspired after a visit here you're not able to. Don't forget to have lunch in the beautiful center garden surrounding by the overgrown buildings, statues and old trees.
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In the summertime you can take the Metro directly to the beach. And if you're over the crowded white trash tanning and blanket sex scene, enter the hidden away mens or womens area located in the big wooden beach bathhouse. Here you can lie naked and enjoy the sun on your private parts while reading a novel or surfing your iPad. Expect lots of gays and lesbos which can be a curse or a party depending on who you are as a person.
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