WERK and Snøhetta completed the Esbjerg new maritime centre: a lantern of the Danish west coast

Project description by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta

Room for maritime activities and communities
The upper level of the building houses various clubs, including clubs for rowing, kayaking, sailing, diving and triathlon, as well as common areas, an educational centre and training facilities. On the lower level, directly connected to the sea by a bridge, one can find boat storage and workshop space. Large windows throughout the building’s façade give plenty of daylight and visibility inwards, while also connecting the centre to its surroundings. At night, a warm glow shines through the windows, lighting the centre up like a lantern.

Inspired by wooden boat construction
The building design is inspired by the geometry and craftmanship of boats, paying homage to the maritime tradition and its significance in the port of Esbjerg.

Round-shaped holes between the terrace and the boat storage and preparation area bring daylight down to the ground floor's core and create a visual and social vertical link.

The façade has a rhythm and repetition inspired by wooden boat construction, both outside and inside. It also reflects the water's energy with the pace and horizontal rippling effect experienced when throwing a stone in the water. The changes in the angle of the panels give varying shadows, inspired by the shapes of kayaks. The wooden rhythm continues on the roof, where solar panels are integrated into a belt around the top edge.


Esbjerg new maritime centre by WERK and Snøhetta. Photograph by Wichmann+Bendtsen.

Where the poetical and practical meet
With a vision to create a space that unites the poetical with the practical, the Maritime Center aims to find a balance between the mesmerizing and never-ending movements of the sea and practical everyday chores. A symbiosis between the beautiful and the raw, the elegant and the robust.

The robustness of the center is evident not just in the buildings’ ability to facilitate activities, but also in how it creates shelter from strong winds. The building is planned for high water in case the water exceeds the new surrounding dam. Therefore, the structure up to the first floor is made of concrete, poured in one go. The wooden façade is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, while the building is designed with areas where visitors can find shelter.

One such area, and the heart of the project, is a lifted, publicly accessible terrace, gathers all the different activities of the building. Connected to the first floor, the terrace is accessible from the two main stairs, creating an amphitheatre. Along these two ​ amphi stairs, visitors can enjoy the view and the maritime activities on smaller wind-protected terraces on the first floor.