28/08/2026
From the Archives: Verdenspladsen aka Gellerup Sports and Culture Campus //
Gellerup, in Aarhus — Denmark’s second-largest city — is undergoing a major transformation.
Verdenspladsen (The World Square) is an urban space that connects Gellerup’s cultural, sports and leisure institutions and acts as a natural extension of the programmes of the surrounding buildings — including the library, community associations, swimming pool, sports clubs and circus school.
The square is articulated by abstract, multifunctional forms that rise from the surface, creating an inspiring and playful environment.
The paving is partly made from reclaimed materials sourced from the municipality’s material bank. Two-metre-long concrete tiles, previously used at Aarhus Harbour, have been given a new life as part of the square’s surface.
The green character of the adjacent City Park is drawn into Verdenspladsen through strategically placed trees. They provide shelter, spatial variation and a series of intimate spaces within the larger square. Their canopies contribute to a green and lush atmosphere, while clear views are maintained between the trunks, ensuring a sense of openness, visibility and safety for people moving through and spending time in the square.
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TEAM
MASU Planning (Landscape architect), Schmidt Hammer Lassen (architects), Loop Architects. COWI, 2+1 idébureau
Client: Municipality of Aarhus / Brabrand Boligforening
Size: 3,000 m2
Timeline: 1st prize in competition, 2016 / Completed 2024
Photographs by Kasper Palsnov