In the midst of the transformation of Gellerup, a suburb of Denmark’s second largest city Aarhus, the decision has been made to move 950 municipal workplaces to the area’s centre and the contract for the new building, named Gellerup Nord, has been awarded to Arkitema Architects. Incorporating municipal work and meeting spaces with public functions like restaurants, cafes and a rooftop lounge, the building will produce an entrepreneurial “start-up environment” to revitalize Gellerup.
“What if one could establish a local government building, which from the beginning is intended to be different - an office building that contributes to changing the whole area? What if the building opens up as an urban space and varied, with multiple green patios as parts of both the building and the city?” asked Glenn Elmbæk, partner at Arkitema Architects.
The new municipal workplaces were designed with these questions in mind. With the constant transformation of the site’s surrounding area, with blocks of flats becoming residences, educational institutions and business places, Gellerup Nord aims to kick-start further change. In light of this spirit, a temporary entrepreneurial environment will be established at the building site until the building itself can be finished. With the intention of becoming a new destination for Aarhus, a direct elevator from the ground floor to the rooftop lounge will allow visitors to see the transformation of the Gellerup area, as well as Aarhus Bay.
Architects
Location
Edwin Rahrs vejClient
Aarhus MunicipalityPublic-Private-Partnership Operator
A. Enggaard A/SService Operator
CaverionUrban Spaces
ArkitemaEngineer
NirasStrategic Adviser
HauxnerArea
23000.0 m2Project Year
2018Photographs
Architects
