Crafts College in Herning

About

Located on the outskirts of Herning, what is called Crafts College is not a traditional educational center. Its main purpose is to provide affordable lodging to over seventy young people starting out in the construction occupations, including carpentry, plumbing, and painting, through apprenticeships in local enterprises. Most of them live here for almost four years, during which they can complement their training in workshops within the complex, perfecting techniques and honing practical skills. A work of the firm of the Danish architect Dorte Manrup, the recently opened complex arose from a need to address the notable decline of professional training programs in the past years, and the design seeks to celebrate the essential relationship that exists between craftsmanship and architecture, forming spaces that not only give accommodations but also teach through firsthand experience of materials. Under a huge elliptical slate roof, the two-story building embraces a large courtyard. On the basis of an exhaustive meteorological and solar analysis, the roof presents variable slopes and an undulating ridge that maximizes natural light entering the building without compromising protection against wind.