With 30 years of experience, Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects is one of Scandinavia’s most recognized and award-winning architectural practices.
Working out of studios located in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Shanghai and London, we provide skilled architectural services all over the world, with a distinguished track record as designers of international high-profile architecture.
We are deeply commited to the Nordic architectural traditions based on democracy, welfare, esthetics, light, sustainability and social responsibility. Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects was founded in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1986 by architects Morten Schmidt, Bjarne Hammer and John F. Lassen.
Today, the practice has grown substantially and employs 150 staff. The group of partners has also grown and now includes Senior Partners Kim Holst Jensen and Kristian Lars Ahlmark, Partners Chris Hardie and Rong Lu. In addition, there are six associate partners and seven associates. Day-to-day management of the practice is the responsibility of CEO Bente Damgaard.
People/Places
Our permanent staff consists of a dedicated, experienced and well trained team of architects, landscape architects, planners, design engineers, draughtsmen, model makers, interior architects, multimedia designers, graphic artists and administrative staff. Over time, we have learnt the importance of being physically present where we create buildings. We have two offices in Denmark, one in Shanghai and one in London. In addition, we have small offices on site. We do so, because we believe in being present and solving day-to-day problems, including dealing with the local authorities, contractors, consultants and architects.
Our Work
Cultural and educational buildings, offices, commercial, retail and residential, often in mixed-use developments and complex urban contexts, are cornerstones of our output. Most projects span every aspect of scale from interior design to concept plans and masterplans – from detailing, to urban development and landscape. The practice has extensive global experience in the design of libraries and other public and cultural landmark buildings including the Katuaq Cultural Centre of Greenland in Nuuk (1997), the extension to the Royal Library in Copenhagen (1999), ARoS Museum of Art in Aarhus (2004), Halfiax Central Library in Canada (2015) and the largest public library in Scandinavia, Dokk1 in Aarhus (2015).
Aside cultural buildings, our works have a democratic approach to architecture creating modern, open and multi-functional spaces such as The International Criminal Court in The Hague (2016). We pride ourselves on projects which interact with their urban context placing particular emphasis on the surroundings and social context like Malmö Live, a Concert/Congress/Hotel centre in Sweden (2015), Ningbo Home of Staff in China (under construction) and Christchurch Central Library in New Zealand (under construction).
Awards
Our innovative, sustainable and democratic approach to architecture has attracted global attention, this is reflected in 100+ prestigious, national and international awards received through the years including the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in Canada/A+Award 2016/Årets Bygge 2016/Architectural Review IPIM Future Project Awards 2015/World Green Design Product Award 2014/RIBA National Award 2013/RIAS Award 2013/ArchDaily Building of the Year Award 2011/LEAF Award 2011 to name but a few.
