Kay Fisker – Functional Floor Plans

Special Project – Visual Research Project – Scale 1:75

Research Hypothesis
Using Hornbaekhus as a case study, this investigation examines in what way Kay Fisker’s housing developments have been influenced by the housing crisis of that time. Looking to understand and discuss theories of social context and functionalism within Fisker’s design response.
Hornbaekhus by Kay Fisker, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, saw social housing moving away from functionalism of the built form as an entity, to an individual floor plan within the development. Consciously encompassing an internal green courtyard creating a calming, restful and sociable space where residents can engage. Hornbaekhus was completed in 1923 and is a significant housing project both in its scale and typology of its time. This impressive housing block comprises of 290 apartments measuring 200m by 80m, positioned around the internal courtyard. Covering the topic of Danish functionalism and the issues Kay Fisker was addressing during that period with the housing project and the housing block not developing subjectively, but in solution to problems, referring to social, welfare, state involvement and political factors of that time, (the post war period). Understanding the architects’ responsibility and their duty to respond, not only to a moment in time, but also to build solutions that will stand the test of time and care for the inhabitants.