Public office building leads the way in the transformation of a ghetto area

The district of Gellerup in Aarhus is undergoing a transformation. The area is to be redefined, and as a front-runner element of the development, 950 municipal jobs have been moved into the heart of the district. In 23,000 m² of office space, workplaces and public functions have been combined with a start-up environment, in a building which is an icon for the area and sets the tone for a revitalised Gellerup.

The building serves as a covered city space, where the administrative office areas blend with public functions. The whole of the ground floor is taken up with varied and outward-looking urban facilities including a café, restaurant, workshops and a coffee roaster.

The most eye-catching part is the uppermost box, whose striking projection over the corner of Bygaden and Edwin Rahrs Vej acts as a clear welcome sign to Gellerup and Aarhus. From here, visitors can take a high-speed lift up through the building to a viewing level 24 m above the ground and look out over the new Gellerup and Aarhus Bay.