Tuborg South Masterplan
Type
Masterplan and local development plans
Address
Hellerup, Denmark
Area
Masterplan: 100,041 m²
The Coastal Houses (86 apartments): 51,900 m², landscape: 95,400 m²
The Uplands (124 apartments): 18,511 m²
Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters: 16,900 m², landscape: 54,000 m²
Clients
Danica Pension (The Coastal Houses and the Uplands)
Novo Nordisk Fonden (Headquarters)
Authority
Gentofte Municipality
Landscape Architects
The Coastal Houses and the Uplands: Julie Kierkegaard Landskab
Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters: SLA Architects
Year
2008-2027
Photo
Adam Mørk
Hampus Berndtson
Renders
Kvant-1
We have been working on the master planning of Tuborg’s former industrial site in Hellerup since 2008. The area was originally set to be divided by residential blocks. In collaboration with Gentofte Municipality, we prepared a new local development plan that ensured the site would become one coherent natural landscape, with housing placed along the waterfront. Today, we are continuing to develop the area in connection with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters. The landscape will serve as a generous host for significantly increased biodiversity in the municipality.
Originally, Tuborg South was planned as a site split up by residential blocks. Our masterplan instead demonstrated the value of transforming Tuborg South into one continuous natural landscape, with the Coastal Houses 1–5 apartment buildings placed along the coast. In 2008, we developed a new local plan with Gentofte Municipality to secure this vision. The Uplands housing development, at the southern edge of the site, was moved closer to the urban fabric of Hellerup to make more room for nature.
New Local Plan and Municipal Framework
Coastal House 1-3 have been completed. Novo Nordisk Foundation later acquired the development rights for Coastal House 4 and 5 from Danica Pension in order to develop and build its new headquarters, for which Lundgaard & Tranberg is serving as lead consultant. We positioned the headquarters close to Hellerup to preserve as much space as possible for the landscape and to create an open connection between the city and the Øresund coast.
As part of this process, both the local plan and the municipal planning framework had to be changed from residential to commercial use. We supported Novo Nordisk Foundation in developing these new plans, working in close dialogue with Gentofte Municipality and participating in an extensive public engagement process.
Increased biodiversity
The new Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters will be set within a large biodiverse landscape. Together with SLA Architects, we are further developing Tuborg South by establishing a landscape with three main zones: the forest, the open meadow, and the coastline. Each zone forms a distinct ecosystem and will become a generous host for significantly increased biodiversity in the municipality. The municipal school service in Gentofte will have access to the site, allowing children to explore and learn about the many biotopes of the coastal landscape.
A key focus of the project is to weave nature and architecture together as closely as possible.
Site plan, Local Plan 248. The area was originally planned with residential blocks that left no room for one continuous natural landscape.
In 2008, we developed a new local plan with Gentofte Municipality. We placed Coastal House 1–5 residential buildings along the Øresund coast and the Uplands toward Hellerup. This creates the highest possible quality across the site, with room for nature and open views of the water.
March 2026. Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters is under construction. The photo also shows Coastal House 1–3 and the Uplands, completed for Danica Pension.
Photo: Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The new Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters will be located within a large biodiverse landscape. Together with SLA Architects, we are further developing Tuborg Syd by establishing a landscape with three main zones: the forest, the open meadow, and the coastline. These three zones form distinct ecosystems and will become a generous host for significantly increased biodiversity in the municipality. Landscape plan: SLA Architects.
Kysthus 1 and 2 extend all the way to the water, each with its own small harbor. Together with large Nordic stones, they define the coastline and frame a salt-marsh-like landscape inspired by the gentle Danish coastal terrain, shifting between low-lying areas and rolling hills.
Site plan, the Uplands. The housing development contains 124 rental apartments and extends the urban edge of Ved Eltham in Hellerup. The apartments have sea views and will benefit from the new large landscape established in connection with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Headquarters.
