Water has been a crucial source of inspiration – and practical challenges – through the ages. Here we explore buildings directly inspired by water, located by (or on!) the water, and a park reinvented to mitigate climate change challenges.
Denmark is a nation bounded by water. A land made up of islands. Its coastline totals 8,750 km – a huge number given the small scale of the country. And as every child in Denmark knows, you can never be more than 52 km away from the sea anywhere in the country.
Historically, this made Denmark a major seafaring nation. Most of its major towns and cities were built by the sea to make shipping easy, and many fishing villages sprang up along the coasts. Back in those days, the architecture immediately facing the sea tended to be utilitarian in nature, particularly along the harsh west coast. Here, storms would regularly eat huge chunks out of the land, eventually swallowing houses located too close to the coast. It still happens today, despite modern coastal management measures.
It is little wonder, then, that houses built back then tended to turn their backs on the sea. They huddled behind dunes for protection, and farms would let their outhouses face the sea to provide some shelter for the residential parts, which looked inland. What is more, the half-timbered houses lent themselves well to being dismantled and moved elsewhere: people would take the precious timber with them and rebuild their home, even entire communities, in a new location. Villages have migrated across the land to escape the sea, changing names along the way: Toft, East Tofte, New Tofte. (Today, this practice is kept alive in Norway, if for different reasons: For example, several centuries-old farms by an airbase near Trondheim are currently being relocated to help form an entirely new district in Vipetangen, mixing old and new buildings).
Landmark residential complex by the water
The main source of inspiration could hardly be clearer in the case of The Wave in Vejle, Denmark. Located with the Vejle Fjord on its doorstep, this remarkable residential development has become a landmark of the town.
Designed by the internationally renowned Henning Larsen Architects, The Wave comprises a total of 15,000 m2 of luxury housing. The project has won numerous design awards, including the prestigious Civic Trust Award. The five crests directly reference the coastal location while also echoing the hills around Vejle, responding to the site. And inside, all residents enjoy spectacular views of the water.
Incidentally, Unidrain is part of this remarkable building: 169 GlassLine modules for the 102 bathrooms. The GlassLine modules were chosen partly for the look of the finished solution, which matches the Danish design aesthetic of the overall architecture – but also for the way in which this all-in-one solution ensures a fully watertight installation.
The 169 GlassLine modules were chosen partly for the look of the finished solution, which matches the Danish design aesthetic of the overall architecture
Managing extreme rainwater, protecting cultural heritage
– and rediscovering early Arne Jacobsen designs.
Originally created in the 1920s, Enghaveparken has been transformed to double as a vital climate infrastructure, capable of holding up to 22,600 cubic metres of rainwater.
When the weather is dry, the basin structures double as seating and play areas. During heavy rain, they absorb excess water, becoming reflective pools.
The redesign of Enghaveparken, led by architecture studio Third Nature in collaboration with Cowi and Platant for the City of Copenhagen, successfully respects cultural heritage while responding to modern climate threats. The stringent, neoclassical layout now incorporates an underground reservoir and automated water gates that let the park manage extreme rainfall without compromising its visual character. The water’s not going to waste: rainwater from nearby rooftops is stored for irrigation and street cleaning, while a water channel and fountain garden is great fun for all visitors. And when it’s dry, these features double as benches, play zones and the like.
During the work, the developers discovered that before he was famous, iconic Danish architect Arne Jacobsen not only designed the stage found inside the park – he also designed pavilions and the entrance areas. These were demolished in the 1970s, but now, modern versions of his designs are once again part of the park. A park that will now continue to be a place of leisure while actively protecting the city around it.
Accreditation: Third Nature, Cowi and Platant for The City of Copenhagen.
With 10,000 m2 of floor space and 53 aquariums holding 7 million litres of water, this is Northern Europe’s largest aquarium.
Major water-themed attraction shaped like a maelstrom
It would be hard to find a more water-themed building than Denmark’s National Aquarium: it is located by the water, designed to mimic swirling water, and contains 7 million litres of water. Known in Danish as ’Den Blå Planet’ (Blue Planet), the aquarium presents the marvels of the marine world to more than half a million visitors every year.
Designed by the Danish studio 3XN, the building’s exterior resembles a whirlpool – a maelstrom of water in ceaseless movement, drawing in the visitors. With 10,000 m2 of floor space and 53 aquariums holding 7 million litres of water, this is Northern Europe’s largest aquarium. Conditions in the various aquariums are optimised for the species living there – hot or cold, fresh or salt water – and the animals and fish on display are presented by region, including northern seas and lakes, tropical rivers and seas, and the oceans.
Inside, the five ‘arms’ of the maelstrom serve a practical purpose: they guide visitors intuitively through the various sections – and make sure that you will always find your way back to the central hub; a trait greatly appreciated by parents who let their children explore on their own.
You can’t get architecture more closely linked to water than this. It’s not located by the Lule river in northern Sweden, but on it.
A floating hotel and spa on a river in the north of Sweden
You can’t get architecture more closely linked to water than this. It’s not located by the Lule river in northern Sweden, but on it. The circular main building of the Arctic Bath spa and hotel floats on the water and is accessed via a wooden jetty. The same applies to the nearby ‘Water Cabins’ that serve as individual guest rooms. In winter, these structures become trapped in the ice: after all, the place is located just 50 km south of the Arctic Circle.
The logs pointing in various directions are a reference to the historic practice of floating timber down the river; these logs would sometimes get stuck along the way, forming a sight very similar to this spa. Inside, the structure also reflects local traditions in its use of wood, reindeer hides, and stone floors. The spa itself is a spectacular take on traditional Swedish sauna culture and cold baths: all year round, visitors can take a plunge in the river while encircled by the comfort of this luxury retreat.
