Recall a time when industry hummed and gears turned relentlessly. That time echoes here at Valby Maskinfabrik. This was once a sprawling industrial site. Now, it is reborn as a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood.
Valby Maskinfabrik stands at the corner of Vigerslev Allé and Gammel Køge Landevej. It’s a transformation worth exploring.
Founded in 1882 by Frederik Læssøe Smidth, F.L. Smidth started humbly. Operations began in his mother’s Frederiksberg home. By 1898, the company had expanded. It acquired about 25 hectares south of Valby village. Here, it built its machine factory.
Valby Maskinfabrik became a hub. It manufactured machinery for the concrete industry. By 1950, the factory employed 2,000 workers. Imagine the noise and activity. The constant movement of people and machines shaped this place. However, manufacturing ceased in the early 1990s. De Forenede Ejendomsselskaber acquired most of the site in 2001. A new vision took hold.
Arkitema Architects designed the master plan. This plan envisioned approximately 1,200 apartments. It also included 40,000 square meters of office space. Valby Maskinfabrik was transitioning. It was becoming a place to live and work.
The streets here tell a story too. They are named after famous Danish actors and actresses. Consider Axel Strøbyes Vej or Bodil Ipsens Vej. Reflect on Buster Larsens Vej and Clara Pontoppidans Vej. These names add a touch of Danish cultural history to the area.
Valby Maskinfabrik enjoys excellent transport links. Valby station is just north of the area. Vigerslev Allé station is about 500 meters west. Ny Ellebjerg station sits approximately 900 meters south. Connectivity was key to its new design.
F.L. Smidth A/S founded Valby Maskinfabrik og Jernstøberi Valby in 1898. The factory was built on land from Lyshøjgård. It gradually expanded between Vigerslev Allé and Gammel Køge Landevej. Valby Maskinfabrik primarily produced machinery for the cement industry.
Production stopped around 1990. Redevelopment into a residential area began around 2000. Henning Larsen Architects created the overall plan. Gehl Architechts further developed it. Some factory buildings were reused. Others were newly built.
Valby Maskinfabriksvej serves as the access road to the entire neighborhood from Vigerslev Allé. It extends as a green belt along the development. On the east side, one of the preserved assembly halls houses both businesses and residences.
Once, farmers tilled the fields here. Then, in the mid-1800s, industry arrived with its noise and smoke. Now, silence has returned. The factory has closed. The last worker has long since clocked out. The land and buildings are being transformed. People will once again live here in peace and quiet.
In 1957 Valby Maskinfabrik grew from 30 to 1,200 employees. The factory’s canteen, milling hall, and workers’ changing rooms have been converted into showrooms, offices, and shops. New residential buildings have been constructed. They are named after Danish theater divas: Clara Pontoppidan, Lily Broberg, and Bodil Ipsen.
The gray and black bricks are still in the old Danish format. Kim Bjørn Arkitekter aims to create an attractive and active urban area. They want to offer people safe and pleasant surroundings.
Valby Maskinfabrik stands as a testament to Copenhagen’s evolving story. It is a blend of industrial heritage and modern living. A place where the past informs the present and shapes the future.