The railings of an exterior stairway continue onto the roof as play and exercise structures. Copenhagen’s Park ’n’ Play invites people onto a parking garage even when they have no car to park.
Article
An exposed stairway climbs a parking garage in Copenhagen's Nordhavn district. Follow the red railing and a space for play and exercise appears above the parking levels. Park ’n’ Play, formally named Konditaget Lüders, gives people a reason to visit a parking structure without bringing a car.
JAJA Architects began by asking whether a parking garage needed to serve only one purpose. Parking remained below, while the roof became a space for the neighborhood. About 24 meters above the ground, its activity area covers approximately 2,400 square meters. The footprint of the building supports another outdoor space overhead.
Access is visible rather than tucked away inside. Large stairs climb along opposite sides of the building. People on the street can see the route and those using it, while the view changes during the ascent. The architects describe this visible approach as part of making the roof useful and inviting.
The handrail does not stop at the top. It continues across the roof, becoming supports for swings, climbing, and exercise. The same red line held on the way up becomes part of the playground. Street, stair, and roof are linked by one continuous design element.
Planters and greenery occupy the garage's repeated structural frame. The large scale of the building remains evident, while plants, stairs, and people bring smaller elements to the street-facing surface. The façade is also a route to the roof, not simply a covering for the parking floors.
The project was completed in 2016. In its 2026 news, JAJA announced a run on November 7 to mark the tenth anniversary. Even apart from that event, the building's arrangement is clear: cars pause below while people move above. The railing held on the stairs keeps going, changing its role after reaching the roof.
Related Video: JAJA Architects Interview: Park'n'Play
Produced by: Louisiana Channel
https://vimeo.com/198673448
Image Description: Park and Play Designer Interview Video Preview · Louisiana Channel
Image source: https://vimeo.com/198673448
Sources and editorial notes
Louisiana Channel · JAJA Architects Interview: Park'n'Play
Video channel · Louisiana Channel
Editorial note: Factual statements are based on the sources above; interpretations reflect MUADAILY's editorial perspective. Image: Park and Play Designer Interview Video Preview · Louisiana Channel.
Machine-translated from Korean. Read the original.
