Residence hall towerblock

Businesses and homes are now being built to take advantage of this prime location in the heart of the city and with railway views – in what was until recently a run-down industrial district in central Aarhus.

Godsbanekollegiet (literally ‘rail freight residence hall’) is named after its location because, even though it has been many years since goods trains stopped here, the buildings and area have retained the name while being sympathetically repurposed. In addition to Godsbanen’s creative workshops and many events, the area also houses Aarhus School of Architecture and several new residential buildings.

The towering residence hall spans 12 storeys by the roadside, while an associated block of general youth housing forms a large base framing a shared courtyard. Residents also benefit from rooftop terraces, greenhouses and chill-out zones. As with other tower block districts elsewhere in Aarhus, a patchwork of different shades of brickwork lend character to Godsbanekollegiet and the block.

Residence hall with communal kitchen and views

On the ground floor, the residence hall has a number of communal facilities (shared by the entire building, including residents in youth housing and student accommodation) such as a laundry, common room, TV room, study room and gym. Simple materials and lots of daylight are key to the architectural styling. The concrete looks raw and unfinished in some places, but this is offset by white Troldtekt ceilings, which adds sound absorption and texture to the rooms.

Troldtekt is also used in the communal facilities of the residence hall and in the communal areas throughout the tower block. Here, Troldtekt is used as floating acoustic cloud, separated by luminaires in the corridor zones. Each storey has a communal kitchen for the 11 residents per floor, and here you will also find white Troldtekt ceilings – as well as panoramic views of the city. Troldtekt is used in the hallways of the block’s general housing section, but here the natural wood version is used.