Ferring Pharmaceuticals Headquarters

By Editorial Staff - 15 December 2023
Pichler projects has participated in the project

Designed by Foster + Partners with input from Mikkelsen Architects, the Copenhagen headquarters of Ferring Pharmaceuticals has a distinctive inverted pyramid shape that allows the building to gracefully rise above the waterfront along the Øresund strait (or “the Sound”, as it is often called in English), offering striking views of the city of Malmö and the Swedish coast.

The sense of lightness conveyed by the building is enhanced by the presence of a large pedestal at ground level, which acts as a first line of defense against possible flooding, and a transparent dome at the top, built with the assistance of Pichler projects. Both the anti-flood base and the triangular layout of the building, which is surrounded on all sides by water, provide clear evidence of Foster + Partners’ remarkable ability to turn landscape constraints into creative opportunities.

Pichler projects © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners, courtesy Ferring

Steel and glass are the dominant materials for the dome and, for that matter, for the rest of the structure, giving the Ferring Pharmaceuticals headquarters a contemporary, technological stylistic edge, materialized in part by the Bolzano-based company’s ability to work with materials to shape the architects’ bold ideas. The building has six floors, with private offices and laboratories on the outer side and common areas facing the central core and the large entrance lobby. These spaces are designed to be easily reconfigured by employees to promote flexible and dynamic ways of working that meet today’s needs. The large curved and transparent surface that crowns the interior ensures plenty of natural light
can reach deep inside, with a total of 1,800 sq. m of glass. At the same time, the metal skeleton was left exposed to pay homage to the concept of firmness and resilience that the project seeks to convey. In all, more than 215 tons of steel and 638 pieces of glass were used.

Each triple-glazed panel has a different geometry and was cold-bent to create the building’s roof, which is more like a work of art than a simple covering for a building. Pichler projects’ involvement was crucial to successfully creating this ambitious design. The company ensured each phase proceeded swiftly and precisely, from the design, to the supply and installation of materials and even to the subsequent maintenance.