More Than a House : An Experiment in Transformation – LKR Innovation House
This book documents the transformation of a 1995 timber warehouse in Østbirk, Denmark, into LKR Innovation House, a contemporary workplace for research, development and collaboration within the VELUX Group.
Conceived originally as an experiment in untreated timber construction, the warehouse was built to test the longevity of responsibly sourced wood when combined with careful detailing and passive protection. Over three decades, the building weathered, matured and demonstrated the enduring potential of timber as a structural and architectural material.
Rather than pursue demolition and replacement, the project embraces adaptation as a design strategy. Existing structures were selectively opened to introduce courtyards and daylight deep within the plan, while timber components, concrete floors and façade elements were dismantled, reworked and reused. In doing so, the building’s history remains legible within its renewed architectural form.
Through essays, interviews and extensive photographic documentation, the publication examines ideas of reuse, material stewardship and continuity in architecture. LKR Innovation House offers a compelling case study in working with existing buildings, demonstrating how transformation can extend the life of a structure while enriching its spatial, environmental and cultural value.
Relevant to architects, students and anyone interested in sustainable design, the book explores the possibilities of adaptive reuse and the evolving relationship between architecture, material longevity and time.
Authors: Joseph G. Allen, Mikkel Bahr, Lone Feifer, Ambra Guglietti, Mads Bjørn Hansen, Marie-Louise Høstbo, Karsten Ifversen, Lars Kann-Rasmussen, Heidi Merrild, Tina Mayn, Kasper Mose, Siobhan Rockcastle, Troels Thorbjørnson, Mette Tony and Birthe Urup
Publisher: Danish Architectural Press
Format: Hardback
Pages: 234
ISBN: 9788774077152
Publication date: April 2026