Architect: WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta
A new Maritime Center has opened to the general public in Esbjerg, a seaport city on the west coast of Denmark. Following a design competition in 2019, WERK Arkitekter and Snhetta built the center as a shared area for watersport groups and visitors along the port, giving the community a social maritime centre and architectural icon.
“The Lantern”, a new maritime centre in Esbjerg, is made with the neighbourhood’s needs in mind. The centre is a true centre for nautical activities, housing numerous watersports clubs, boat storage, training facilities, a sizable workshop area, and social events. Visitors are welcomed inside from all directions by the building’s round, open shape, which makes it a welcoming and inclusive space.
Both the exterior and interior of the façade have a rhythm and repetition that are modelled after wooden boat building. Throwing a stone into the water causes a horizontal rippling effect that also reflects the energy of the water. The various shadows produced by the panels’ changing angles are influenced by the forms of kayaks. On the roof, where solar panels are integrated into a belt across the top edge, the undulating rhythm of the wood is maintained.
