Landsbyggefonden has published a report on the successful transformation and energy-optimization of social housing area Rosenhøj in Viby, near Aarhus.

Originally built as multi-storey dwellings in 1967-1970, the area had recurring security issues in the early 2000s and was in dire need of extensive maintenances to the structures and public areas.

EFFEKT with Arkitema and engineering firm VIGGO MADSEN won the planning, landscape and building competition following which an extensive renovation in 2014-2017 supported by the Landsbyggefonden was carried out in the area. The intervention focused on changing the catalogue of housing typologies, improving accessibility and building envelopes for increased energy performance. Intuitive wayfinding and biodiversity restoration, as well as and rainwater management were introduced in the outdoor public spaces and throughout the infrastructure plan.

Today, Rosenhøj now consists of 808 multi-storey dwellings of varying sizes, of which almost a quarter have full accessibility. In addition, 22 new rowhouses were added to densify the area.

In 2017, the project received the RENOVER award for Denmark's best general renovation.

Aside from gaining national recognition, the renovation aroused interest abroad and is now being studied by international social housing operators that are facing similar challenges in other countries:

Rosenhøj became the model example for how the public housing sector in Denmark is able to carry out renovations which, in terms of climate, energy, environment, housing standard, well-being and social community, create resilient housing solution for the population.

The strategy and solutions principles that EFFEKT developed and implemented for the Rosenhøj and Gellerup renovations became the reference point for the following social housing projects EFFEKT and many other Danish colleagues are developing.

Read the full article (in Danish)…

Cover image: Lars Just