Novo Nordisk Headquarter, Bagsværd

The new company headquarters of the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which leads the way in the treatment of diabetes, comprises two buildings situated in a green and attractive landscape. The larger, cylindrical office building has six storeys and covers a total area of 32,500 m2 (including a 13,000 m2 underground car park). This circular form, with no beginning and no end, gives the impression of perfect equilibrium, acts as a visual focus and contributes to low energy consumption. The design was inspired by the complex structure of the insulin molecule, with its helical structure reflected in the roundness of the building and, in the building’s interior, in the dynamic white balconies in the atrium. The architecture aims to create a dynamic environment in which people can meet up and so promote synergies between employees from different specialist fields and between employees and guests from all over the world. This was the vision behind the plans for the new company headquarters. The exteriors of the new buildings are characterised by their clear and simple lines. Like brightly shining strips, the terracotta cladding made from white, glazed ceramic panels adorns the façade, follows its curves and spiral loops with the utmost precision and contributes significantly to the building’s striking visual impact.