The project

Sønderborg Havneselskab A/S was founded on 10 November 2006 by Sønderborg Municipality and Bitten & Mads Clausens Fond.

The company's vision is to help the city harbour contribute to the vitality of Sønderborg, making it a high-quality and attractive city.

The role of Havneselskabet is to create a sustainable area which is unique in Denmark and Europe. An area characterised by outstanding architecture, and high-quality and numerous activities. The aim is to make the area attractive to new and existing city residents and visitors, and an attractive travel destination.

In 2007, Havneselskabet engaged the services of renowned architect, Frank Gehry, to prepare a master plan for the transformation of the central Sønderborg harbour area – Sønderborg North Harbour – an area of over 50,000 square metres.

The master plan was unveiled on 31 October 2008. It is a three-dimensional model – a form study – which sets the overall architectural tone and outlines the vision and dimensions for the entire area and sub-areas. The master plan encompasses buildings with a total floor space of approximately 50,000 square metres. Transformation of the harbour area will proceed over a number of years and will involve various developers and architects working on the buildings and outdoor areas.