Stubberupgaard Supportive Housing by Leth & Gori

Transforming Mental Health Housing with Care and Community

The Stubberupgaard Supportive Housing project by LETH & GORI is a landmark example of compassionate and community-focused residential architecture. This project involved the renovation, transformation, and new construction of 44 sheltered apartments for individuals with mental health conditions, thoughtfully integrated into landscaped courtyards and gardens. The design carefully reinterprets the historical complex of stables, cowsheds, coaches, and guest houses, creating a harmonious new master plan that strengthens spatial connections between existing buildings, gardens, and new housing units.

The architects approached the new additions by respecting and transforming the existing farmhouse typology, ensuring that the architectural language complements the historical context. According to Karsten Gori and Uffe Leth, “We wanted to create a community of buildings and generate thoughtful spaces designed with residents in mind.” The careful arrangement of buildings and functions fosters neighborly interactions, a sense of belonging, and social cohesion within the complex.

Holistic Interior Design and Shared Facilities

Stubberupgaard’s interiors were designed with homeliness, daylight, and authentic materials as core principles. Shared facilities include:

• A common kitchen and dining area
• A resident-run café
• Fitness and workshop spaces

The interiors emphasize warmth, natural light, and thoughtful detailing, creating a healing environment that addresses both functional and emotional needs. Every space is crafted to support vulnerable residents, blending comfort and usability with architectural elegance.

Sustainable Design and Materiality

Sustainability played a central role in the design. The project combines elegant, durable materials with historically inspired architectural forms, resulting in a cohesive complex where various building typologies, gardens, and social spaces interconnect. Different window types, daylight strategies, and artificial lighting solutions were incorporated to enhance the therapeutic quality of the environment while maintaining energy efficiency and sustainability.

Strategic Collaboration and Execution

Stubberupgaard was executed under a strategic partnership between Copenhagen Municipality / ByK and DSP PLUS, involving:

• Lead Contractor: Jakon A/S
• Architects: LETH & GORI A/S
• Project Management: Rørbæk og Møller Architects
• Engineering: EKJ Consulting Engineers AS
• Landscape Design: Schul Landscape Architects

This collaborative model enabled seamless design integration across all stages, ensuring that the project meets both architectural and social objectives.

Stubberupgaard Supportive Housing demonstrates how sensitive architecture, thoughtful planning, and community-focused design can create spaces that truly support mental health and well-being. By blending historical typologies, sustainable materials, and careful spatial design, the project sets a benchmark for supportive housing architecture globally.

All Photographs are works of Laura Stamer