Infill Svend Trosts Vej Building by ADEPT: Enhancing Urban Living in Frederiksberg

Breathing New Life into a Small Urban Complex

Nestled between two classic residential buildings in Frederiksberg, Denmark, the Infill Svend Trosts Vej Building, designed by ADEPT, demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can solve spatial challenges in dense urban environments. Completed in 2023, this infill project introduces an additional 15 m² to six of the seven existing apartments, providing essential extra room for growing families without compromising the neighborhood’s charm or community spirit.

The project also revitalizes the private courtyard, transforming it into a playful and biodiverse landscape featuring permeable surfaces, greenery, and areas designed for family interaction. The combination of architectural intervention and landscape design enhances both the aesthetic and functional quality of the complex.

Responding to Urban Space Constraints

The initiative began as a community-led conversation about the challenges faced by residents in the two buildings. Families were struggling with limited space, prompting thoughts of moving out of the city despite their attachment to the neighborhood. The site presented strict zoning restrictions, preventing traditional vertical or inward expansions.

The solution was to reimagine the small unprogrammed accessway between the buildings as a shared extra room for six of the seven apartments. The seventh unit benefits from a private roof terrace, adding a new dimension of urban living. This approach maintains the existing neighborhood fabric while offering families the room they need to stay and thrive in the city.

Architectural Approach and Identity

ADEPT’s design respects the urban identity of Frederiksberg, where classic architecture meets a variety of smaller, quirky additions and infills. The SVT infill responds to this typological character while introducing a green layer, emphasizing tactile materials and urban biodiversity.

Over time, climbing plants will cover the infill façade and the boundary fence, creating a dynamic and living interface between public and private spaces. The courtyard’s renovation with permeable surfaces and new planting strategies enhances the ecological quality of the site, promoting biodiversity and offering a healthier environment for residents.

Creating Sustainable and Family-Friendly Urban Housing

The Svend Trosts Vej infill is more than a design intervention; it is a community-driven solution that demonstrates how small-scale residential architecture can significantly improve urban living. By combining innovative spatial strategies, greenery, and sustainable materials, ADEPT ensures that families can remain in the city without compromising their comfort or quality of life.

This project exemplifies the potential of sensitive infill architecture to enrich dense urban areas, balancing privacy, functionality, and a playful interaction with the landscape.

• Additional 15 m² for six apartments
• Private roof terrace for the seventh unit
• Courtyard transformation with permeable surfaces and biodiversity-focused landscaping
• Integration of climbing plants for a green façade and boundary
• Community-led project enhancing urban living without displacement

All photographs are works of Morten Aagaard Krogh, Cornelia Gramkow