JDS + CEBRA Collaboration Wins Housing Competition in Aarhus, Denmark

Denmark, May 19, 2008—JDS/JULIEN DE SMEDT ARCHITECTS and Aarhus- based CEBRA, in collaboration with the Dutch firm SeArch and French architect Louis Paillard wins the competition to build a 25,000 sqm housing complex in the new Aarhus Docklands development.

The project will be developed by the Tækker Group and Brabrand Boligforening with an expected completion date of spring 2010.

The Aarhus Harbour development provides a huge opportunity for Denmark’s second largest city to develop in a socially sustainable way by renovating its old, out-of-use container terminal. The area is meant to become a living city quarter, comprised of a multitude of cultural and social activities, a generous amount of workplaces, and of course, a highly mixed and diverse array of housing types.

The Iceberg Project seeks to locate itself within the goals of the overall city development. A third of the project’s 200 apartments will be set aside as affordable rental housing, aimed at integrating a diverse social profile into the new neighborhood development.

The project’s main obstacle is the density set up for the development, the desired square meters are in conflict with the specified site height restrictions and the overall intentions of providing ocean views along with good daylight conditions. The Iceberg negotiates this problematic, by remaining far below the maximum heights at points and emerging above the dotted line at other moments. “Peaks” and “canyons” form; eliciting the project’s iconic strength while ensuring that all flats will be supplied with a generous amount of natural lighting and waterfront views.

“With the Iceberg we get unique housing qualities as well as a city architectural expression of the highest quality”, says Kent Martinussen, adm. dir. of DAC (Danish Architecture Centre).

“Ã…rhus will get a fantastic harbour front with unique architectural buildings that both in appearance and functionality prove that we are a city of grand ambitions. Our desire for this area goes beyond just a façade without life and purpose. We want a living city where everybody thrives. Both those who live and those who work in this “City near the harbour / De Bynære Havnearealer”. Projects of this calibre are a big step towards this goal.” -Mayor, Nicolai Wammen

About JDS Architects
JDS/Julien De Smedt Architects is a multidisciplinary office, located in Copenhagen, Brussels and Oslo, that focuses on architecture and design, from large scale urban planning to furniture and design. The office is fuelled by talented designers and experienced architects who jointly develop projects from the early sketch to on-site supervision.

Independent of scale, this outlines an approach that is affirmatively social in its outcome, enthusiastic in its ambition and professional in its method.

JDS Architects’ makes use of an approach, where intense research and analysis of practical and theoretical issues are being converted to the driving forces of the design process. By continuously developing and implementing precise and rigorous methods of analysis, we are able to combine innovative thinking with an efficient production.

At the core of our architecture is the ability to take a fresh look at things through experienced eyes. This approach has resulted in a wide portfolio of both Danish and international projects.

The office is 34 people strong, and supports an attitude of involving external consultants when required and relevant. This use of complementing resources ensures that projects will never suffer from being too conventional, too narrow-minded nor too naïve.

JDS Architects prefers to regard its position as its client’s partner, rather than as its mere consultant. This ensures constant involvement and engagement which results in projects that both parties are proud of.

JDS is founded and directed by Julien De Smedt, former co-founder of PLOT.

Visit the project’s website on www.isbjerget.com.