Copenhagen approves five-storey hotel expansion atop historic Palads cinema

Copenhagen City Council has approved a controversial local plan allowing a five-storey hotel to be built atop the historic Palads cinema, clearing the way for a major renovation of the landmark building, reports DR.

The council voted 37 in favour and 18 against the plan, which permits an expansion of 5,900 square metres—primarily through the addition of five new floors above the existing structure. The approved plan requires the building to retain its cinema function on the lower levels while accommodating a hotel on the upper floors. The Palads structure itself has also been designated as preservation-worthy.

The proposal had drawn significant public debate, with the municipality receiving 3,128 responses during the consultation period. Around 200 of these focused on the architectural design of the new floors, with critics opposing the use of concrete and glass and warning that the expansion could appear “grey” in the cityscape. In response, the final plan explicitly prohibits grey tones in the new construction.

Owned by Nordisk Film Biografer, the Palads building has operated as a cinema since 1918. Its facade was repainted in bright pastel colours by artist Poul Gernes in 1989. Earlier proposals to demolish and rebuild the structure were abandoned in 2022 following public opposition, leading to the current renovation plan developed by architecture firm Cobe.