SHiP - Wellness and hotel in Aarhus

Address: Aarhus Harbour, Denmark
Size: 20,000 m²
Competition year: 2007
Type of competition: Site purchase
Client: Byggeselskabet Olav de Linde

The health culture centre has been designed to resemble a hand with five fingers reaching out towards its surroundings: the periurban harbour areas of Aarhus. It consciously activates both the urban environment, the architectural 'fingers' and the spaces between the fingers. Here there is no functional difference between the architectural spaces and the spaces between them. The spaces between the fingers act as vibrant courtyards with intimate meeting-places. On the ground floor of the ’fingers’ lie an interior thoroughfare, fitness facilities and the wellness centre, while the storeys above contain a five-star luxury hotel, a restaurant and a conference centre. The heart of SHiP is its spacious and inviting aqua and wellness centre, which, combined with the inner thoroughfare, provides an opportunity to enjoy various recreational activities.
The health culture centre takes the form of a single, white, sharply-profiled building. The building's five fingers are in two storeys towards the harbour park, after which it terraces upwards to four storeys. The terraces are an architectural feature which give the facades a welcoming appearance, while at the same time ensuring that the pleasant courtyard areas and all of the hotel rooms receive plenty of sunlight and a view of the sea or the city. The simple design is accompanied by a maritime choice of materials in which all of the surfaces are white, and all of the relaxation areas use wooden materials.
The area around SHiP will be vibrant and dynamic, while the intimate courtyard areas, the wellness centre and the many public amenities will make SHiP an attractive meeting-place: somewhere to focus on health.