The Harmonikahusene project in Frederiksberg, Denmark, stands out with its distinctive zigzagging facade featuring sit-in bay windows. Designed by architecture firm EFFEKT, the development consists of two curved housing blocks intended for students and young professionals.
Named Harmonikahusene, or The Accordion Houses, after their undulating exteriors, the buildings were developed by Nrep to provide 519 student flats and 158 apartments, complemented by communal amenities open to both residents and the public.
EFFEKT, based in Copenhagen, drew inspiration from Frederiksberg’s traditional red-brick architecture. This influence is reflected in the buildings’ reddish-brown facade, achieved through a combination of colored aluminum and glossy, fluted ceramic tiles.
Harmonikahusene is a student housing complex with an accordion-like facade. Photo by Niels Nygaard
“Although the project introduces a significant number of new homes—boosting Frederiksberg’s population by nearly one percent—we are proud that every detail is thoughtfully attuned to its surroundings,” said EFFEKT co-founder Tue Hesselberg Foged in an interview with Dezeen.
“We reimagined Frederiksberg’s classic red brick into custom-designed, red-glazed ceramic tiles, crafting a lighter-weight facade that lets the bay windows function as intended,” he continued.
“It’s a modern interpretation of the grand historic buildings along Åboulevard, giving the architecture a tactile, generous, and grounded character.”
The colour of the facades nods to local red-brick buildings
The development consists of two curving structures, joined at ground level by a glazed reception area accessed via broad brick steps. The larger building is known as Umeus, and the smaller as Noli.
Residents have access to a wide array of shared facilities on the ground floor, including a library, laundry, study spaces, a fitness area, and landscaped rooftop terraces that offer views of the surrounding city. These overlook the planted courtyards at the heart of the complex.
