Aarhus Harbor Masterplan

AARHUS, DENMARK

2014

CLIENT

Aarhus Municipality, Anpartsselskabet Kilden & Mortensen

TYPOLOGY

Public Realm, Residential

STATUS

COMPLETED

Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, is in the process of rediscovering its historic port. Asked to masterplan an entire island on the decommissioned pier known as Bassin 7, BIG proposed to design the public space first and then turn the leftover areas into plots for future housing developments.

A new public promenade ties together the bay in east and leisure harbor in west. The meandering shape of the promenade defines a series of new public spaces on land and water weaving together the two and extending the new public realm into the water earlier reserved for industrial purposes. The promenade brings life to the area through a sports plaza, harbor bath, theater, restaurants, cafés, and beach huts which all together create a new vibrant waterfront in Aarhus.

BIG reversed the masterplanning process and designed the public spaces before the surrounding buildings. The buildings are shaped by the life that preceded them.

Similar to BIG’s first harbor bath in Copenhagen – which has come to define the Danish capital as one of the most livable cities in the world – Aarhus Harbor Bath provides new ways for the public to enjoy the water during all seasons.

Together with urban life expert Jan Gehl, BIG’s strategy was to create a framework for maximum amount of activity with the minimum amount of built substance. The harbor bath zig-zags gently into the island, extends all the way out into the harbor pool and back again. The swimmers can enjoy the circular diving pool, a children’s pool, the 50-meter lap pool or one of the two saunas that are tucked underneath the public boardwalk which doubles as a viewing platform for who those who prefer to stay dry.

"Rather than building all the housing and then activating the leftover space with public programs, we proposed to design the public space first and then turn the leftover areas into plots for future housing developments."

Bjarke Ingels — Founder & Creative Director, BIG

Next to the harbor bath are the Urban Life houses – a row of 13 individual units that host cafés, bars, and restaurants, acting as a year-round meeting spot for residents and visitors to further activate the waterfront.

Each house has its own distinct architectural character, with materials ranging from cork, charred or reused wood to thatched straw.

In addition to the Urban Life houses, BIG designed 21 Beach Houses in front of the 26,000 m2 residential development, AARhus. The Beach Houses sit directly on the waterfront with unobstructed views of the harbor and bring a mix of scale and program to the new neighborhood, creating a sense of community among the locals.

The Beach Houses are located in front of the residential project AARhus at the tip of the redeveloped pier.

As a small scale typological addition to the existing building mass on the harbor the houses are extruded 4.2 m above ground.

As a gesture between the streetscape towards AARhus and the promenade facing the water, new connections cut through the envelope.

The overall envelope is subdivided into 21 units of 20 m2.

As a reference to an old fisherman's hut all the units are designed with pitched roofs swaying in three different angles.

Two units are given to the local church who has installed a small space hosting lectures, gatherings and services for everyone. The pitched roof of the church is extended to max height mimicking a church spire.

Towards the water all units are designed with large folding doors maximizing the views of the harbor front and creating a minimal physical barrier between the interior of each unit and the promenade life.

As an addition to the existing promenade programs and activities, each owner has committed to hosting at least 10 public events every year bringing more than 200 unique attractions annually.

Taking cues from the traditional fisherman hut typology, the Beach Houses are built side by side with floor-to-ceiling windows, creating panoramic views towards the harbor. The façade can fully open, extending the interior space to the outdoor promenade.

The houses include small kitchens and space for dining and relaxing. The bedrooms, located on top of the bathrooms, let residents wake up to views of the sea from their bed.

Each owner is committed to hosting minimum 10 public activities every year including lectures, exhibitions, coffee making, yoga classes, and sub board lessons, ensuring a buzzing urban life all year round. Two of the units are owned by the local church adding a more religious aspect to the program of the public promenade.

A 150-seat theater, home to the local theater group Teatret Gruppe 38, is located at the end of the public promenade, which meanders along the harbor edge. In addition to hosting performances, BIG designed the space to accommodate cultural events, workshops and block parties.

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Bjarke Ingels Finn Nørkjær Jakob Lange Andreas Klok Pedersen Agne Rapkeviciute Annette Jensen Annette Jensen Ali Arvanaghi Anne-Charlotte Wiklander Axelle Bosman Bogdan Chioran Enea Michelesio Jacob Lykkefold Aaen Jakub Kulisa Jesper Bo Jensen Jesper Bo Jensen Johan Bergström Joos Jerne Kristoffer Negendahl Lucian Tofan Michael James Kepke Michael James Kepke Teodor Javanaud Emden Raphael Ciriani Richard Howis Ryohei Koike Ryohei Koike Sofie Maj Sørensen Spencer Hayden Tore Banke Ulla Hornsyld Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Alberte Danvig Ariel Joy Norback Wallner Franklin Natalino Simao Giedrius Mamavicius Jesafa Templo Katerina Joannides Nicolas Millot Nicolas Millot Soo Woo Jakob Ohm Laursen Simon Feldtmose Thunholm Clara Elma Margareta Karlsson Yasamin Mayyas Mie Eusebi Jesper Nislev Jonatan Hulterström Victor Corazza

AWARDS

World Architecture Festival Highly Commended Future Masterplan, 2024

International Urban Planning Association and BAUWELT International Urban Project Award, 2024

MIPIM Best Urban Regeneration Project, 2024

Licitationen's Building Awards, 2023