Topping-Out Ceremony Marks New Milestone for Solterrasserne

On 3 June, a topping-out ceremony was held for Solterrasserne in Valby together with the Social Services Administration, Byggeri København, and DSP PLUS (Jakon / EKJ / Schmidt Hammer Lassen).

The project transforms the former residential care home for the visually impaired, originally completed in 1976, into 54 contemporary homes and is expected to achieve DGNB Silver certification. During the event, speakers including Mayor of Social Affairs Karina Vestergård Madsen and Partner Nicolai Overgaard highlighted the project's ambitions and its significance for the local community.

Designed by architect Palle Suenson, the original building is a distinctive example of the period’s modernist architecture, characterised by its sculptural concrete beams and red brick façades. Since the project began in 2021, the ambition has been to preserve and build upon the existing qualities of the building rather than replace them.

The transformation retains the building’s underlying logic and architectural character. The generous garden-facing terraces are preserved, shared functions remain organised along the street frontage, and the double-height dining hall continues to serve as a central gathering space. Materials and finishes are being upgraded with a focus on robust, tactile solutions, while a new activity space with direct access to the garden will strengthen community life and connections to the surrounding landscape.

Solterrasserne demonstrates how existing buildings can be transformed with respect for architecture, resources, and the history of place. At the same time, it will become the first DSP PLUS project to achieve DGNB certification.