Havnehusene (The Harbor Houses) is just one of many new building projects in Eastern Harbour in Aalborg paying homage to the area’s historical past.
When developing a historical neighborhood, you simultaneously need to acknowledge the past while you’re creating something new. So rather than embracing a tabula rasa strategy, the objective for the development of Easter Harbor has been to create a new sustainable district while maintaining a reference to the area's history. Hence industrial history, high silo buildings and contact the water forms the basis for a reinterpretation and development of new urban qualities in the area.
As architectural consultants, Sangberg are involved in the masterplan, two parking facilities and more than 17.000 m2of housing.One of the housing projects is Havnehusene (The Harbor Houses).The third phase of Havnehusene consists of 10,500 m2 compact affordable housing for students, young people and families as well asa shopping facility at the ground floor.
The building is inspired by the existing industrial warehouse architecture of the area.Thanks to a simple choice of materials and down-toned detailing the building has a raw expression. The facade consists of red-brown concrete elements, stacked so they create a rhythmic variation in the facade. The color and materials are based on the colors of and bricks of the existing buildings, although the bricks are scaled up to a raw, contemporary x-large version.
A simple approach with a strong expression
In Havnehusene simplicity is achieved by a raw and unembellished materiality combined with a precise sense of detail. This way the Harbor House becomes an example of an optimizedaffordable housing project that utilizesvery few, minimal elements.The simplebuilding shape ensures optimal daylight situations in all apartments, while an inner courtyard and a roof terrace creates a frame for community living among the residents.
Havnehusene is a good example of architecture of necessity with an essentialist and honest approach. Minimal architecture doesn’t try to hide how it is constructed, and Havnehusene shows that it is possible to combine functionality with a simple approach and aesthetic vision.
