Arkitema

New healthcare buildings open north of the Arctic Circle in Norway In March, two new healthcare buildings opened their doors in the city of Narvik, Narvik kommune – a brand new hospital, Nye UNN Narvik sykehus, and a municipal healthcare center – both inaugurated by Norway’s Minister of Health. Arkitema designed both buildings, which bring together somatic care, psychiatry, and specialized addiction treatment in one shared location. The hospital's design supports close coordination with primary care and the local nursing home – creating a seamless patient journey. "Here, the hospital and the municipality have together developed the healthcare services of tomorrow. The hospital brings somatic healthcare, mental health, and addiction treatment together in one building, side by side with the municipal health center. This is collaboration in practice and shows the way forward as we continue to build our shared healthcare services," said Minister Jan Christian Vestre, concluding: "A truly beautiful building of European top class." Since the project's beginning in 2016, we've been part of a fantastic co-creation journey alongside our clients Universitetssykehuset Nord-norge Hf and Sykehusbygg HF, and our skilled team members from HENT AS, Norconsult, and Ramboll. Photos: Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge (UNN)

"Absolutely thrilled!" – that’s how our colleague Christine Søndermark Pedersen summed up her experience after teaching last week as part of Molio - byggeriets videnscenter’s certification program for Certified Design Managers (Certificeret Projekteringsleder). As Competence Leader for Design Management at Arkitema, Christine is one of our most knowledgeable experts in the field – and someone many of our colleagues benefit from through internal courses and sparring. But beyond sharing her knowledge internally, Christine is also eager to contribute to the wider industry. That’s why she is also part of the group of educators at Molio, the leading knowledge hub for the Danish construction industry. “When I teach, it’s about meeting other project- and design managers, exchanging experiences, and digging into the practical side of contract law. We focus on how to turn intentions into practice – with tools that help lead and coordinate complex design processes,” Christine explains. At Arkitema, we’re proud to have experts like Christine who not only lead projects but also actively help raise the bar across the industry. We believe that knowledge grows when shared – as individuals, as teams, and as a profession. Christine co-taught the session on design management in practice, with a particular focus on coordination and leadership. As early contractor involvement becomes more widespread, the role of the design manager is more critical than ever. Together with Sine Trige Pedersen, Section Manager at NCC, Christine explored how design managers can effectively represent the client’s interests, navigate the Danish ABR18 §23 framework, and lead interdisciplinary design teams with clarity and structure. Participants included contractors, client advisors, architects, and engineers – creating a space for valuable, cross-disciplinary dialogue.

How do you shape a balanced neighborhood? We have a plan! Earlier this month, a new development plan was revealed for the social housing neighborhood, Vollsmose, in Odense, Denmark. We are proud to be part of the team behind the plan for this more than 2 km² area, home to over 7,000 people. Under the headline “A city quarter in balance,” the plan paves the way for public and private investments, including the establishment of 2,000 new homes, 30.000 m² of new public workplaces, new streets, urban spaces, rainwater management and recreational green areas. With this comprehensive transformation of the entire area, the ambition is to create an attractive and vibrant part of Odense by 2040. Besides creating the overall plan, Arkitema and @COWI have already contributed to several projects in Vollsmose over the past five years, and we look forward to further shaping the neighborhood towards the vision of integrating it into Odense through city life, communities, and nature. The development plan outlines the main structures for the entirety of Vollsmose. These structures form the foundation for the gradual transformation of individual neighborhoods, developed one at a time in collaboration with citizens, investors, housing associations, the municipality, and other stakeholders, as land is released for urban development. The characteristic concrete housing blocks of Vollsmose were built in the 1960s, with further development continuing in the following decades. The neighborhood has long been associated with high levels of crime and unemployment. In 2018, @Odense Municipality took the first steps toward change by approving an initial development strategy. In 2021, Arkitema and @AP Pension won the tender for the new development plan, laying the foundation for the consortium Fremtidens Vollsmose P/S, which is now the key driver of Vollsmose’s transformation. Consisting of @AP Ejendomme, Odense Kommune, @Civica, and @FAB, the consortium is responsible for infrastructure planning, water management, site preparation, and the overall development of the area. Drone photo: Torben Eskerod

Beautifully Patinated New-Build Townhouses In western Aarhus, Denmark, a new cluster of townhouses has risen from the ground. Trekanten (The Triangle) consists of small groups of houses, approximately half of which are clad in reused bricks. Situated at the borderland between the uniform concrete residential blocks of Gellerup and a neighborhood of 1960s single-story homes, Trekanten acts as a mediator between the two as a symbol of a new era for the area. Gellerup, a historically challenged neighborhood, is undergoing an extensive transformation. While some of the original residential blocks will remain, new homes are adding fresh layers to the urban fabric. Trekanten is composed of residential clusters of three or six terraced houses, staggered within a lush courtyard landscape. The varying heights, roof shapes, and façade expressions create a sense of a cohesive yet diverse ‘village community,’ where the houses feel distinct but still belong together. By using reused bricks, the ambition is that this addition to the neighborhood does not appear as yet another “brand-new” development but rather as a natural, low-key extension—already patinated and rich with history. The entire project has been certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel by Miljømærkning Danmark, with a strong focus on reducing its carbon footprint. One of the key measures has been the use of recycled bricks for façade cladding. Thanks to a great co-creation effort by our team consisting of AP Ejendomme, LB Consult - Norconsult A/S, and 5E Byg A/S, we have achieved a notably low footprint of just 7.7 kg CO₂ equivalents per m² per year. Photos by Thomas Mølvig and Arkitema

Look at this beautiful 1:200 scale model of the Lysningen School project in Viborg! The model is crafted entirely from plywood, with our talented model builders using a laser-cutting and engraving technique in four layers of material to highlight the details of the façades. This method beautifully brings the façades to life, offering an intricate view of the architectural details through the model. At Arkitema, we believe that scale models are invaluable for visualizing our designs. A physical model has the obvious quality of being physical, tactile and immediately understandable for everyone, high and low, child and adult - and across disciplines. This helps us communicate the ambitions and vision of the project in a tangible way. The model of Lysningen was created by our talented colleague and model builder, Francisco Pires. His keen eye for detail and dedication have resulted in a stunning piece that colleagues and guests now admire in the reception area of our Aarhus office. Lysningen (meaning "The Clearing") is more than just a school—it's a new community hub where education, sports, and cultural activities come together, creating a vibrant space for all ages, from morning to evening.

Yes, it’s complex, but it’s also a great solution for future coastal climate protection in Dragør Last week, Danish construction daily Licitationen featured three pages on the Dragør Coastal Protection project which we’ve done alongside our knowledgeable colleagues in COWI and IS IT A BIRD. Design Director Sanne Lovén Damgaard gave a tour of the huge area that is going to become the future landscape that will rather absorb than repel the water, when a storm surge hits the Southeastern coast of Dragør Kommune. This is a highly complex project, where several specialists and experts are needed to calculate, design and build a new piece of nature, as Sanne states in the article: “We want to create added value, provide new nature experiences, and develop a landscape that gradually increases its resilience in response to rising water levels. That’s why it has been especially crucial to involve specialists from the very beginning. In addition to interdisciplinary collaboration between landscape architects and coastal engineers, biologists, environmental experts, lawyers, and anthropologists are also involved in the development process.” The overall conceptual design was approved by the municipality last week, setting the project on track. When completed in 2030 the coastal area stretching 13 km will not only dampen the impact of rising sea levels and storm surges it will at the same time become a recreational barrier towards the sea and become home to both fauna and wildlife. If you read Danish you can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dDZcBu7d

This is what the future looks like for MAN Energy Solutions in Denmark. Last week, the contract for a brand-new site was signed between MAN Energy Solutions and turnkey contractor DS Flexhal A/S. Through a great co-creation process between DS Flexhal, COWI, and Arkitema, we have designed a future hub for the Danish branch of the world-leading engine company MAN Energy Solutions. Dubbed “The Valley Campus,” this ambitious project will be situated in a former gravel pit in Hedeland, near Roskilde in Denmark. It will house offices, production, and logistics facilities, a Social Hub featuring an academy as well as a Research Centre. Spanning a 175,000 m² plot, the project will comprise approximately 70,000 m² of gross floor area and serve as the daily workplace for around 2,000 employees. In other words, a project of significant scale and impact. The overarching ambition for The Valley Campus is to create a strong platform for transforming the maritime industry through innovation and sustainability – paving the way for a more environmentally friendly future for global shipping. In our design, we’ve focused on creating a welcoming campus that supports MAN Energy Solutions’ future growth. The architecture is inspired by the maritime world – the signature light green of MAN’s giant two-stroke engines, the galleries of engine rooms, the revolving flywheels, and the durable materials that define the industry. These elements have been translated into a unique architectural concept, where stepping into the new campus provides a clear reference to the maritime and technology-engineering world yet closely connected to nature and the surrounding society. “At Arkitema/COWI we are really pleased to be part of a strong team with DS Flexhal. Together, we have created a holistic solution with architectural and engineering design, ensuring that MAN’s vision and requirements come to life. From the very beginning, we have worked on creating architecture inspired by the deep-rooted identity of the company. In doing so, we help shape the physical framework and identity for their continued growth,” states John Strandfelt, Market Director at Arkitema. The project is set to be completed in 2028, at which point MAN Energy Solutions will consolidate three locations to form a new main location at the new campus. The project is being developed and financed by a joint venture between MAN Energy Solutions and Volkswagen Immobilien, both being part of the VW Group.

Look at this beautiful new school building made of wood! This summer, as the new school year began, children in the Overlund neighborhood of Viborg, Denmark, walked into their brand-new school. Lysningen (meaning The Clearing) is more than just a school - it’s a new community hub where education, sports and communal activities come together as key cultural institutions for all ages, from morning to evening. At the heart of the building is a large, open atrium - a clearing - from which staggered plateaus extend, meaning you typically move just half a level up or down between floors. The school is designed for project-based learning, with a strong focus on subject-specific environments. Each learning space is carefully tailored to its subject, allowing students to see, feel, and experience whether they are in a math, language, or cultural studies class. Lysningen is created with sustainable aspects such as timber load-bearing structures, façades and interior. Using timber as the primary material adds character and identity to Lysningen, while contributing to light and welcoming architecture for the citizens in eastern Viborg. Photos📸: Niels Nygaard Photography and Viborg Kommune

Same library, new look - or rather, the old one! We are very proud to have been entrusted with the important task of renovating the Stockholm Public Library (Stadsbiblioteket). Just this week, we published illustrations showcasing the building in its new yet old colors. We propose to restore its original exterior color, as the architect designed it. The main building was designed by renowned Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund and inaugurated in 1928. Since 2017, it has been classified as a historical monument, meaning that any interior and exterior changes are highly restricted and must always be carefully balanced against its significant cultural value. This striking landmark in central Stockholms stad is an important part of the city's identity. The renovation will therefore preserve Gunnar Asplund’s original design and the details specifically created for this building, while some later additions will be removed and replaced to restore the building’s original appearance as closely as possible. The library operates in facilities that are nearly a hundred years old, and over time, the demands and conditions for its use have evolved. Therefore, the building is now being carefully adapted to meet these changing needs, including upgrades to technical and digital infrastructure, as well as improvements to public meeting spaces and a new library dedicated to children. During the renovation, the library will be closed, but we can’t wait for it to reopen its doors to the public in 2027—just in time for its 100th anniversary. An article about the new (old) colors was published this week in the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, which you can read here (in Swedish): https://lnkd.in/dCVrgMuz Please note!! The three last photos by Gustaf Liliquist are how the library looked before the restoration.

This Monday, we were happy to welcome yet another group of student interns to our offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus. We look forward to giving them a stepping stone in their careers while also learning from their fresh knowledge, youthful spirit, and aspirations. We see our interns as equal colleagues, whose input and ideas can be just as valuable and enriching to a project as those of our senior architects. As an integral part of their new teams, the interns will spend the next five months gaining hands-on experience while also exploring new areas of the field with guidance from our specialists. By bringing together a group of like-minded student interns at our offices, we also give them the opportunity to be part of a unique community. Through various social activities and internal lessons provided by our specialists, we hope this new group will return to school wiser, stronger, and even more prepared for their future careers as architects and construction architects.