Made in Aarhus Aarhus

GOAL no. 1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 15

In a world of limited resources and far-reaching future climate changes, construction too has to limit its use of resources and reduce carbon emissions. Made in Aarhus aims to create an urban development where affordable and sustainable solutions go hand in hand.

Almost one in four inhabitants in Danish cities uses more than 40 per cent of their disposable income on rent or mortgage payments. Low-income groups, such as students or pensioners, are particularly sensitive to rent increases and other changes to their budget. This increases the risk of our main cities increasingly becoming the exclusive reserve of high-income groups.

The vision for Lisbjerg is a diverse urban district with an emphasis on affordable housing, varied architecture, sustainable solutions and circular construction. The housing development Made in Aarhus consists of 215 dwellings and is a mix of owner-occupied dwellings and affordable housing for rent.

Lisbjerg is the first urban district in Denmark to have a municipal detailed plan that requires at least 20 per cent of upcycled material in exterior walls and facades. Exterior walls are made of reusable and upcycled materials: brick, slate, painted metal sheets and timber. Recycling and green solutions are consistent features throughout. In accordance with the project’s ambition of using recycled materials from Aarhus and environs, three of the 12 building clusters are clad with red pantiles from a building in the nearby town of Skanderborg. By using timber constructions, the imbedded CO2-footprint of the building materials (calculated for a lifetime of 50 years) was lowered to 4.3 kg CO2 eq. per m2/year.

Solar panels provide the project with renewable energy. Biodiversity is another focus of the project: By combining 8,830 m2 green roofs with 10,800 m2 of natural grass areas, bush and tree plantations it was possible to increase the bio factor of the site in comparison to its former agricultural use.

The project demonstrates that a limited budget is not a contradiction to sustainable urban development.

Project details

Where: Lisbjerg Bygade, 8200 Aarhus N

Completed: 2022

Client: NREP

Architects and advisors: Lendager (architecture and landscape), MOE (today: Artelia – engineer)

Lisbjerg Hill Aarhus

GOAL no. 1, 3, 12

West of Aarhus lies a modern mountain village built in untreated spruce using a hybrid construction method. The settlement is one of the first four-storey timber projects in Denmark.

In many cities, the lack of affordable housing makes it difficult to sustain a diverse population that includes low-income groups. In addition, climate and resource concerns underline the need to find alternatives to concrete and steel in construction.

In the hills 10 km west of Aarhus city centre, a small development has emerged consisting of three to four-storey timber buildings placed around two small squares and along a main street. The multi-storey timber buildings, which are rare in Denmark, spark associations to an Alpine village. In addition to the wide galleries on the outside of the houses, which serve as communal patios, the residents also encounter each other in the community building, in the squares and in the gardens.

The buildings are designed for disassembly based on a hybrid building method and a column-beam construction in laminated timber. Concrete and steel are used where it is meaningful for constructive and practical reasons. In some places, steel girders have been used instead of wooden beams to preserve the proportions of the building system. Concrete has been used for stairs and lift cores to meet the strict noise requirements for multi-storey housing.

The untreated spruce exterior is replaced on a continuous basis instead of being painted and is protected by oversized eaves and drip flashing. Inside, the wooden walls provide excellent humidity regulation, softer acoustics and a neutral temperature – and thus a healthy indoor climate. Due to the shape of the roof and the construction principle, the top-floor flats have extra-high ceilings. Large windows provide good daylight influx and views of the surrounding landscape.

This project demonstrates the use of timber to build modern, sustainable and affordable housing that forms a setting for social encounters and informal communities.

Project details

Where: Lisbjerg Bakke, 8200 Aarhus N

Completed: 2018

Client: AL2bolig

Architects: Tegnestuen Vandkunsten