Sluseholmen

A vibrant and welcoming district where the water, city and houses form a whole

Before Sluseholmen's eight residential islands were built, Sydhavnen in Copenhagen was a remote and worn-down industrial harbour. However, through its work with Kalvebod Brygge, the City of Copenhagen had learned that it would be a mistake to cut off the harbour with high buildings.
  • Copenhagen Habour
    Client
  • Copenhagen Municipality
    Client
  • JM Danmark A/S
    Client
  • Sjælsø Gruppen A/S
    Client
  • Nordicom Arkitekter
    Client
  • Sjoerd Soeters
    Masterplan
  • Skanska A/S
    Contractor
  • KPC-Byg A/S
    Contractor
  • Myhlenberg A/S
    Contractor
  • MT Højgaard A/S
    Contractor
  • Pihl A/S
    Contractor
  • NIRAS A/S
    Engineer
  • COWI A/S
    Engineer
  • Location
    Sluseholmen, Copenhagen
  • Year
    2005 - 2008
  • Size
    135.000 m²
  • Award
    Copenhagen Municipality Architecture Award 2009
  • Architect
    Arkitema
Arkitema Sluseholmen Photo05 Photograph Lars Just web

It was now time to think differently, and Dutch city planner Sjoerd Soeters was invited to develop a master plan for Sydhavnen. Based on experience from his homeland, Sjoerd Soeters proposed that canals and a variety of buildings should form the base for a vibrant and welcoming district where the water, city and houses form a whole. Together with Sjoerd Soeters, Arkitema was responsible for the overall planning of Sluseholmen.

With Sluseholmen, the water was to be brought into play to let water and architecture enrich each other. As a result, the water is an essential element in the canal city where large and small houses stand shoulder to shoulder and form coherent housing blocks. The atmosphere varies from intimate canal environments to areas characterised by a large scale and unobstructed views to the surrounding harbour areas. In many areas, the buildings are located right next to the canal, and bridges, wharfs and waterfront stairs make it possible to come right down to the waterfront. In addition to the blue element, there are large courtyards in the middle of the housing block's attractive green oases. They function as a sort of common neighbourhood squares for leisure and outdoor activities and with space for children's play.

In many areas, the buildings are located right next to the canal, and bridges, wharfs and waterfront stairs make it possible to come right down to the waterfront.
Arkitema Sluseholmen Photo10 Photograph Lars Just web

In order to ensure coherence with the rest of the city, Sluseholmen is abundantly connected with the city via bridges and canal busses, and with the future metro station Sydhavnsmetro, the district will have even better connections with the rest of the city. In addition, the area has its own harbour bath, which attracts people from the whole area. There is also a kindergarten, a grocery store – and the municipal school at Teglholmen is not far away.

Arkitema Sluseholmen Photo06 Photograph Lars Just web