Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus, is in the process of rediscovering its old port. Asked to masterplan an entire island on the decommissioned pier named 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.

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 in all seasons.

Together with urban life expert Jan Gehl, BIG’s strategy was to create a framework for maximum amount of life 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 50m long lap pool or one of the two saunas that are tucked underneath the public boardwalk which doubles as a viewing platform who those who prefer to stay dry.

Situated in front of the 26,000 m2 residential development, AARhus, the 21 Beach Huts sit directly on the waterfront with unobstructed views of the harbor. Each unit is privately owned and some are rented out as vacation homes.

The Beach Huts bring a mix of scale and program to the new neighborhood, creating a sense of community among the local residents and an inviting, vibrant public waterfront open for everyone.

Taking cues from the traditional fisherman hut typology, the Beach Huts 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.

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.

The huts 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.

Next to the Bath Huts are the Urban Life houses – a row of 13 individual units that houses 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 and reused wood to thatched straw.

A 150-seat theater, home to the local theater group Teatret Gruppe 38 is located at the end of the public promenade, which winds its way across the harbor edge. In addition to hosting performances, BIG designed the space to be used for cultural events, workshops and block parties.