Accessible sail-shaped viewing tower hovers over the edge of Denmark’s Aarhus harbor

Like an origami sail sitting on the edge of a walkway, Dorte Mandrup's new Sailing Tower in Aarhus Harbor acts as a new meeting point in the city. Its expressive cantilevering form cradles a 7.5-meter-high viewing platform and steel "wings" punctured with playful round openings.

The Sailing Tower looks like a sculpture when viewed from a distance. Up close, visitors can see a spacious staircase fitted for seating and a viewing platform that offers magnificent panoramic views of the harbor and bay. This new landmark for the city of Aarhus in Denmark offers a distinctive focal point, and its white steel body is shaped in an expressive form that references the movement in its surroundings.

The project was donated to the city of Aarhus by the Salling Funds, whose main design requirement was that it should be accessible to everyone. In order to facilitate this need, Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter installed a lift that provides an equal user-experience for visitors with reduced mobility. At night, LED backlighting illuminates the tower from the inside and accentuates circular openings that resemble those of passing cargo ships.