Cold Hawaii Inland Thy

GOAL no. 3, 5, 10, 11, 13, 17

Floating shelters, sea baths and saunas are among the group of new ‘hot spots’ along the shallow Limfjord designed to promote water sports and outdoor living and improve access to the sea for everyone.

Coastal areas are popular destinations, and there is a growing interest in recreational activities on or near the water. However, many sites along the coast are difficult to access for locals and tourists alike, especially for persons with disabilities.

For centuries, the sea and fjord have defined and shaped everyday life in the district of Thy in north-western Jutland. Recent decades have seen the water being used increasingly for recreational purposes. The surfing area in so-called Cold Hawaii on the North Sea is a huge success. Now, local pioneers in Thy aim to introduce similar activities in the calmer waters on the north-western side of the Limfjord and in the nearby lakes.

Cold Hawaii Inland consists of about a dozen different projects that promote water sports and outdoor activities, including a wakeboard track, four floating shelters, sea baths, saunas, a kayaking hotel, panoramic viewing spots and outdoor barbecues.

The projects promote social communities and offer inclusive and accessible public spaces for all, including persons with physical or mental challenges or disabilities. Some of the projects also integrate protective measures against high tides and storm surges.

The coastal development projects were initiated by locals and have become a part of the municipality’s strategic efforts to attract new inhabitants.

Cold Hawaii Inland demonstrates how the coast can be designed to have a more positive impact on people’s mental and physical health and, through this, on settlement and tourism in a rural district.

Project details

Where: Thy, Northern Jutland

Opening year: From 2021 onwards

Client: Thisted Municipality

Architects and advisors: Spektrum Arkitekter (main)

NORRØN Architects, A1 consult and A&I Engineers