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 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.

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

"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

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.

AARhus, a 26,000 m2 residential building sits on the very tip of the pier, offering views to the bay, harbor, nature and city. The architectural approach of AARhus is derived from mixing the most dominant typologies of the existing urban mass in Aarhus city, courtyard buildings, row houses and towers, all in one architectural entity.

Each corner of the building peaks in various heights, and a stepped roof scape creates large private terraces for elevated outdoor activities. On the facades continuous balconies wrap around the building, only to be punctuated by smaller balconies inside the courtyard.

Plot — The building plot of AARhus is located on the very tip of the manmade island of Ø4 surrounded by water on three sides.

Envelope — Based on the constraints of the local plan, the overall envelope peaks in four different heights.

Courtyard — By carving out the center of the envelope, the frame of a courtyard typology appears.

Canal Houses & Maritime Allotments — In the periphery of the ground floor, canal houses and maritime allotment units wrap around the plinth and help breathe new life into the surrounding streetscape.

Residential Units — From first floor upward, residential units are planned - all with optimal sunlight conditions and magnificent views to the water, harbor and city.

Roof Terraces — A stepped roof creates the setting for optimal elevated outdoor space with direct access from all penthouse units.

Aarhus Residences — The 26,000 m2 residential building offers phenomenal views to the bay, harbor, nature and city.

At street level the building offers double height entities, containing both maritime allotment units and spaces for commercial use. These units cover the parking areas hidden in the central plinth of the building and most importantly, create a lively façade towards the street.

Skyline art of well-known buildings by Daniel Van Der Noon graces the hallways of AARhus.

The green heart of AARhus, offers a shared allotment garden for growing vegetables and fruit trees.

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.

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As the first arrival point on Aarhus Harbor, the Ø4 Hotel will house 342 hotelrooms, office spaces, a conference center, restaurants, boutiques and a skybar along with a 3-storey spa and wellness area with views overlooking the city and Aarhus waterfront. With the hotel’s approx. 37.000m2, the Ø4 Hotel will become BIG’s second largest project in Denmark.

The exterior of the 18-storey hotel is publicly accessible for residents and visitors of Aarhus and can be climbed via a staircase with integrated biotopes, designed by BIG Landscape. The staircase spirals around the building, leading visitors from the harbor to an observation deck on the hotel’s roof.

Bjarke Ingels Finn Nørkjær Jakob Lange Jakob Lange Andreas Klok Pedersen Agne Rapkeviciute Agne Rapkeviciute Jesper Boye Andersen Aaron Hales Annette Jensen Annette Jensen Ali Arvanaghi Ali Arvanaghi Ana-Maria Vindfeldt Dominiq Nana Osei Kwabena Oti Ella Coco Murphy Enea Michelesio Enea Michelesio Hanne Halvorsen Molly Hsiao Rou Huang Jacob Lykkefold Aaen Jacob Lykkefold Aaen Jakob Andreassen Jan Magasanik Jesper Bo Jensen Jesper Bo Jensen Jesper Bo Jensen Johan Bergström Kamilla Heskje Katrine Juul Kekoa Charlot Kristoffer Negendahl Kristoffer Negendahl Lucian Mihail Racovitan Lucian Tofan Lucian Tofan Michael James Kepke Teodor Javanaud Emden Teodor Javanaud Emden Raphael Ciriani Ricardo Diogo Chamacho Vieira De Oliveira Richard Howis Richard Howis Roberto Outumuro Castro Ryohei Koike Ryohei Koike Sergiu Calacean Sofie Maj Sørensen Spencer Hayden Spencer Hayden Tobias Hjortdal Tore Banke Tore Banke Ulla Hornsyld Yehezkiel Wiliardy Manik Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Søren Martinussen Agne Tamasauskaite Alberte Danvig Alberte Danvig Aleksander Wadas Anna Wisborg Ariel Joy Norback Wallner Ariel Joy Norback Wallner Brigitta Gulyás Claes Robert Jansson Franklin Natalino Simao Frederike Werner Giedrius Mamavicius Ioana Fartadi Scurtu Jesafa Templo Jesafa Templo Katarina Mácková Katerina Joannides Katerina Joannides Lise Jessen Nicolas Millot Nicolas Millot Soo Woo Xuefei Yan Jakob Ohm Laursen Jakob Ohm Laursen Yasamin Mayyas

AWARDS

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

MIPIM Best Urban Regeneration Project, 2024

Licitationen's Building Awards, 2023