Nye is a community situated in the northern part of Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark. The ‘Sneglehusene’ residential complex, designed by BIG, is an integral part of Nye’s comprehensive master plan. Six buildings create a “porous wall” around the central pond and the wooden pathways, which are surrounded by lush greenery.
Sneglehusene features two types of modular units, with ceiling heights of 2.5 meters and 3.5 meters respectively. These modules are stacked in a unique grid pattern, creating spacious interiors, large French windows, and outdoor terraces for each family.
The landscape design of Sneglehusene was developed by BIG’s landscape team. Green pathways and open intersections between the buildings create inviting spaces where neighbors can meet and socialize. At the heart of the community lies an artificial pond, serving as a shared recreational area for residents.
The pond also functions as a rainwater runoff management system, receiving water through an integrated canal within the site. It is connected to a water supply system developed and managed by the local water company Aarhus Vand. This system reuses greywater collected from the Nye community, which is treated and filtered before being used for non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing and laundry in all households.
The Sneglehusene residential complex marks the second collaboration between BIG and CJ Group. Following the success of the Danish prefabricated affordable housing project “Dortheavej,” this partnership allowed the team to refine and enhance the modular housing concept, resulting in a more sophisticated design for the Nye community.
Project Drawings
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Project Information
Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group
Area: 9,500 square meters
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Rasmus Hjortshøj – COAST
Responsible Partners: Bjarke Ingels, Finn Nørkjær, David Zahle
Project Manager: Joos Jerne
Design Creators: Nanna Gyldholm Møller, Høgni Lakshafoss
BIG Landscape Team: Alexa Haraga, Anders Fønss, Camille Inès Sophie Breuil, Giulia Genovese, Lasse Ryberg Hansen, Ulla Hornsyld
BIG Engineering Team: Andrea Hektor, Andreas Bak, Andrew Robert Coward, Bjarke Koch-Ørvad, Cecilie Søs Brandt-Olsen, Duncan Horswill, Ewa Zapiec, Ivaylo Ignatov, Jesper Kanstrup Petersen, Jonathan Otis Navntoft Russell, Kaoan Hengles De Lima, Kristoffer Negendahl, Mikki Seidenschnur, Peter Andres Ehvert, Timo Harboe Nielsen, Tristan Robert Harvey
Team Members: Norbert Nadudvari, Wiktor Kacprzak, Axelle Bosman, Liliane Wenner, Christine Mulvad, Joanna Jakubowska, Johanna Schneider, Richard Garth Howis, Xinying Zhang, Mikkel M. R. Stubgaard, Katarina Mácková, Sean Edmund Deering, Søren Aagaard, Pawel Bussold, Mantas Povilaika, Espen Vik, Lucian Tofan, Jesper Bo Jensen
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
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