Bassin 7 Waterfront Master Plan

Gehl worked with BIG to create a masterplan for Bassin 7–a new mixed-use neighborhood and waterfront development in Aarhus’ harbor front. The master plan breathes new life into the harbor front, balancing a vibrant public realm with private residences, and activating the spaces in between.

Located in Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, the site of Bassin 7 holds great potential for being a new mixed-use neighborhood and destination. In collaboration with the City and Port of Aarhus, Gehl and BIG developed a Master Plan exploring how the best possible conditions for commercial life, recreation, and water-related activities could be combined with residential amenities, in order to create a vibrant harbor front and attractive living conditions.

Public Life, First

The master plan makes a point of designing for public life first and developing a dense, human-scaled waterfront with a wide range of opportunities for lively activities. The surroundings and buildings are designed with an orientation towards the waterfront to accommodate the public activities. Restaurants and cafés have been concentrated in the prime locations to establish a vibrant and inviting zone, placed strategically so factors like wind, draft and sunlight are also taken into account.

To develop the Master Plan, the team first began by studying and designing the public realm. The Plan carefully balances programs and strategies that foster public life, with private and semi-private amenities that cater to the surrounding residential buildings. Pockets of new public spaces intertwine the residential structures throughout the plot as they meander towards the waterfront promenade, which will connect residents to an existing boat harbor, nearby town square (Nikoline Kochs Plads) and the city center.

While construction of the larger development and residences was still underway, the Harbour Bath opened in 2018, acting as a destination to activate the site in the interim. The harborfront bath house complex can accommodate 650 bathers, and will be followed by the opening of beach volley courts, bars, and cafés along the shoreline.

The large, well-defined, and human-scaled public spaces, together with designs for smaller semi-private courtyard spaces, create an attractive space that builds upon preexisting structures, and sets the tone for a vibrant public life for the forthcoming planned developments.

A meandering promenade weaves together urban spaces on land and water, while distinguishing between public life in the streets, semi-private space in the courtyards, and private residences.

A meandering promenade weaves together urban spaces on land and water, while distinguishing between public life in the streets, semi-private space in the courtyyards, and private residences.