Project Name: Lighthouse Building

Location: Aarhus, Denmark

Design Team: 3XN Architects

Area: 44,600 m²

Completion: 2023

Photographer: Adam Mork

Principal Designer: Kim Herforth Nielsen (Founder and Creative Director)

Landscape Architect: Schönherr, Danjord

Manufacturer: Kalzip (Roof System)

Feature：

Project - Danish architecture firm 3XN has completed Denmark's tallest residential building in Aarhus, featuring a distinctive rhomboid form with rounded corners and a parametrically designed façade that reflects the surrounding waterfront.

The Lighthouse development, which marks a prominent position at the tip of Aarhus Harbor, represents a bold reimagining of waterfront living through its innovative "upside-down" approach to urban development. Rather than beginning with architecture, the project established social infrastructure first – including cafés, water sports facilities, and urban farming initiatives – allowing community feedback to shape the final design.

Standing as the country's highest building, the tower's sculptural form responds to both its maritime context and the city's architectural heritage. The structure's elegant profile, achieved through a rhomboid geometry with two rounded corners, creates a slender silhouette that appears different from every angle, effectively eliminating the notion of a front or back façade.

The development's most striking feature is its sophisticated façade system, which draws inspiration from water patterns and reflections. These prefabricated elements not only create visual intrigue but also serve a practical purpose in weight reduction. The unified architectural language extends across the entire complex, binding the high-rise structure with its mid-rise companions into a cohesive whole.

3XN's founder and creative director Kim Herforth Nielsen describes the project as "a lighthouse in more than one sense," referring to both its landmark status and its role as a prototype for community-centered urban development.

The 44,600-square-metre mixed-use complex ingeniously balances private and public spaces. A waterfront promenade activated by restaurants, cafés, and retail spaces creates a vibrant public realm, while a protected courtyard offers residents a more intimate community setting. The development includes both private and social housing units, each carefully designed to maximize views and natural light through south-facing orientations and private outdoor spaces.

Year-round programming adds vitality to the development, with facilities supporting traditional Danish activities like winter bathing. The addition of a public rooftop restaurant democratizes access to panoramic views over Aarhus Bay and the city, making the building's height an asset for the entire community rather than just its residents.

Through its thoughtful integration of social spaces, architectural innovation, and contextual sensitivity, the Lighthouse development sets a new standard for how tall buildings can contribute to urban life while maintaining a strong connection to their surroundings.

Design Team - Founded in 1986 in Aarhus, Denmark, 3XN has evolved into a global architectural practice renowned for its innovative approach to sustainable design and human-centered architecture. Currently led by a senior partner group of five with Kim Herforth Nielsen as Creative Director, the firm maintains offices in Copenhagen, Stockholm, London, New York, and Sydney, establishing a robust international presence.

The practice gained international recognition through seminal projects like the Danish Embassy in Berlin (1999) and the Muziekgebouw Concert Hall in Amsterdam (1997), setting benchmarks for contextual sensitivity and programmatic innovation. Their portfolio encompasses a diverse range of typologies, from cultural institutions to sustainable high-rises, exemplified by recent completions such as the Olympic House IOC Headquarters in Lausanne and the award-winning Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney.

In 2007, 3XN established GXN, an internal research and development department focused on green innovation, material technology, and circular design principles. This integration of research-driven sustainability with architectural practice demonstrates the firm's commitment to advancing the field through evidence-based design methodologies. The practice continues to push boundaries in sustainable architecture while maintaining its foundational philosophy of building design that benefits both users and urban context.