Photo: COWI/Kieler

Building the Colossus of Copenhagen 

City officials have approved the creation of a 72 metre steel sculpture that towers over Copenhagen and welcomes cruise ships and boats entering the harbour.

New York has the Statue of Liberty, Paris has the Eiffel Tower. If everything goes according to plan, 'the Big Robert' - a giant sculpture measuring 72.5 metres tall and weighing 1,800 tons - will cast a shadow over Copenhagen Harbour in 2010.

The sculpture, which was created by the world-famous, deceased Danish artist Robert Jacobsen (1912-1993), was conceived as a gift to the city of Copenhagen.

COWI has been commissioned to manage the project, with the Kieler architect studio serving as a sub-consultant. A group of private foundations and investors are still exploring ways to finance the project, which is expected to carry a DKK 200 million price tag.

Originally a 93 centimetre high sculpture

Despite its massive dimensions, Big Robert has modest origins in a 93 centimetre high Jacobsen sculpture, which is owned by the project's initiator, company president Frank Johansen - a personal friend of the artist. Jacobsen actually had a full-blown statue in mind when he created the original sculpture.

Photo: COWI/Kieler
With its 72.5 metre height, Big Robert stands twice as tall as the Round Tower - a Copenhagen landmark - and only 20 metres smaller than the Statue of Liberty.


Two decades of planning

More than 20 years passed before the project was ready to be realised with the help of Robert Jacobsen's son, Bobby, who provided a driving force among initiators.

Staying true to art

COWI's project manager, Henrik Ryberg, considers the project an exciting task:

"This is an example of engineering at its best, because we're dealing with a work of art that has to be reproduced on a large scale - a major, technical challenge. We have to calculate and shape the sculpture so it is buildable and sturdy, and we have to ensure that, for example, the sculpture doesn't cause annoying sounds when the wind blows through it. All the while, we have to stay true to a work of art."

By Kathrine Schmeichel, kats@cowi.dk
Published: 23.06.2008

COWI's assignments 

In addition to conducting various calculations regarding the sculpture's shaping, COWI has liaised with authorities, conducted risk analyses and offered suggestions for how to deliver the sculpture to its pedestal in the Copenhagen Harbour.

If the project is approved after a series of hearings, COWI will be hired to manage the Big Robert project, which will stand completed in 2010 at the earliest.