In this next episode of our series on models as a key tool for communication and exploration, we present the Danish office Cobe, renowned for its terrain and object modulations. The undulating landscapes and folded facades create a dynamic interplay of convex and concave forms, shaping both the skyline and the experience of space with precision and iconic character. Emphasizing structural qualities—from volumetric composition to detailed surface renderings—Cobe’s models are crisp, impeccable, yet playful and engaging.

The Blue Metropolis is Cobe’s vision of a “bi-regional strategy, uniting 4.5 million people into one of Northern Europe’s largest metropolitan areas,” centered around Sundet, the strait between Danish Copenhagen and Swedish Malmö. The cover image features an illustration of The Metropolitan Council, one of the five key points proposed by The Blue Metropolis. The collage effectively conveys the need to include all stakeholders—from fish, birds, and plants to energy, economy, and culture—signing a commitment to an ecological future.

The Opera Park model is a detailed presentation for decision-makers, offering a level of engagement that a virtual model cannot achieve in a single view. The use of color makes the trees lifelike and tactile while conveying the imagined lushness and spectacle reminiscent of an opera stage set.

The model for Forfatterhuset Kindergarten is a rough working model, with paper strips delineating and organizing the program in the courtyard while illustrating the facade’s flow. Interestingly, in the completed project, the courtyard itself functions as “a rough model,” offering opportunities for adaptation, transformation, influence, and participation—evoking a board-game-like dynamic within the structure-giving frame.

Cobe designed the Adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, southern Germany, translating the iconic three-stripe brand into the “World of Sports” center, HALFTIME, which brings together various company functions under one roof. But Cobe didn’t stop there—the HALFTIME building became an icon in itself, with its geometric design reinterpreted in the knitted part of an Adidas sports sneaker, modeled in 3D and produced using 4D printing technology.

Cobe won the competition to reorganize the Danish Parliament into a more open and approachable space. Drawing inspiration from “Tingsted,” a historic outdoor gathering place for debate and governance, the design embraces an open, circular, and public structure. By creating a strong visual tool to communicate this clear concept, the project becomes a symbol that can shape the parliament’s identity and graphic representation, resonating with the Danish people.

In their awarded proposal for transforming Copenhagen’s former industrial area, now the creative hub Refshaleøens, Cobe presented their vision through models that play into their spatial approach. Existing built structures modelled in white, are contrasted with colourful, textured insertions applied using a ‘glue gun’ technique. This contrast reinforces the ‘as found’ theme while the stacked elements clearly illustrate building density by going vertical. The use of natural materials like rock, wood, and cork further emphasizes their commitment to designing with respect for nature.

Rainbow Road takes its cue from the 1992 Nintendo racing game Mario Kart. In his article, Mads Birgens uses the rainbow diagram to highlight the emergence of new micromobilities driven by the increasing and under-regulated use of personal electric vehicles, which disrupt urban structure and public space. The images strongly emphasize the need for structured planning to ensure safe connectivity and fair distribution of space among different user groups.