Esbjerg, the second-largest port in Denmark, was established in the mid-19^th century, with the history of Esbjerg’s coast interlinked to the city’s own growth and development. Oslo-based studio Snohetta and Danish architecture firm WERK Arkitekter have attempted to capture this interlink in the design of the Esbjerg Maritime Centre that is built as an extension into the water. The urban centre was commissioned by the legislative body of the Esbjerg Municipality, after the proposal won a design competition in 2019.

Snohetta's idea for the urban space focuses on establishing a connection between the city and water by reflecting the movement of the sea. Programmatically, the centre will host water sports clubs and training facilities, as a large workshop space within the centre's concrete architecture. Setting a trademark for inclusivity, the new Maritime Centre is designed physically and programmatically to be a public space for everyone, from experienced divers or professional kayakers, to being a space for crab-fishing classes, facilitating an experience that reiterates the endlessness of the horizon.

"Our vision is to create a building where the rational and the poetic meet in symbiosis. A symbiosis between the movements of the sea, the migration of light and the impractical, and every day. A symbiosis between spatial experiences and practicality. A symbiosis between the fine and the rough, the social and the sporting,” states Thomas Kock, creative director at WERK. The facade design of the centre is inspired by the ripple effect one sees in water. Through a lattice created using wooden panels in varying angles, the vertical segments cast a shadow inspired by the form of a kayak. "The thermo-heated wood is reflecting the original deeply Nordic-rooted material for boat construction," shares Frank Foray, Snøhetta's senior architect and project lead, on the rhythmic pine cladding that embodies the wood architecture.

Keeping in mind the ecological circumstances of its location, the building has robust structural strength. Designed to withstand high waters in case the water exceeds the surrounding dam, the building also extends in terms of functionality, acting as a shelter against strong winds by incorporating a poured concrete shell on the first floor. The wooden facade sits on this concrete shell, visually referencing kayaks.

Built across 4000 sqm, the building is a homage to the maritime traditions of the Danish seaport town. The timber architecture entails staggered windows throughout its perimeter, letting in natural light, and which when lit up, internally replicates a lighthouse, explaining its popularly earned nickname, ‘The Lantern.’ An elaborate staircase design connected to the terrace, directed towards the water establishes a blend of the built and natural. The ‘Hall,’ a publicly accessible terrace, represents the heart of the building. Two central areas stir activity and cohesion, forming a framework for the associations’ formal practical activities as well as hosting provisions for equipment, tools, and gear.

An amphitheatre was genially incorporated by connecting the first floor to the terrace, from the two main staircases, along which visitors can soak in the view through smaller wind-protected terraces, on the first floor. The 'Hall' also shapeshifts as a roof for the lower floor cast in concrete, inhabiting the associations’ individual areas, aligned closely around a common square, transforming into a new urban space in itself, sheltered from wind and weather.

With Esbjerg Maritime Centre, Snohetta and WERK Arkitekter have realised their vision of designing an associative building that stands as a symbol of contemporary design, while incorporating old traditions. Enhancing a sense of surrounding, identity and relationship, the Maritime Centre integrates three distinct realms—architecture, landscape, and interior design. Further showcasing Snohetta’s collaborative nature in corresponding with various disciplines, while aligning with WERK’s foundation of developing strong ideas, concepts, and strategies in conceiving an urban space design that has a distinct vernacular identity.

Project Details

Name: Esbjerg Maritime Centre- The Lantern
Location: Esbjerg, Denmark
Area: 4000 sqm
Year of completion: 2023
Architect: Snøhetta with WERK Arkitekter
Project Lead: Frank Foray

(Text by Ria Jha, intern at STIRworld)