Textbook transformation

Rosenhøj is a large housing estate from the late 1960s. It is situated in Viby J, a suburb of Aarhus, Denmark. An ambitious renovation project has transformed the estate, which is seeing an increase in popularity. In 2017, Rosenhøj received the RENOVER award, a Danish award instituted in 2013 to honour the best renovation projects in Denmark.

The original architecture of the Rosenhøj estate was characterised by a monotonous solidity. All the apartment blocks looked the same, and the communal areas were dominated by car parks. The 27 blocks have now been divided into 11 neighbourhoods, each with their own neighbourhood square and park-like green spaces.

The apartment blocks have been clad in four different façade types, which makes a big difference to the atmosphere of the place. Moreover, new exterior balconies have been added to encourage interaction with the green areas and the residential streets.

The new façade cladding and the energy renovation of the blocks have resulted in an improved indoor climate and improved energy efficiency for residents. Over and above raising the standard of housing, the project has also led to a marked increase in well-being and social cohesion in the neighbourhood.

New buildings

The new structure and the new façades went hand in hand with a remake of the outdoor areas, and the landscaping has been carefully designed to tie in with the new architecture and support a sense of cohesiveness.

As part of the renovation, about a quarter of the apartments now offer easy accessibility, for example where lifts have been installed. In these blocks, Troldtekt acoustic ceilings have been used to renew the aesthetics and at the same time improve the acoustics in the stairwells.

The lift tower is clad in black-painted wood. New forms of housing have been added, including housing for young people in a sculptural apartment block and small free-standing blocks between the original blocks. The team of janitors is based in a new brick building, where Troldtekt has also been used indoors.