The Crafts College in Horsens

The new Craft College has been built on the former railway grounds in Horsens and is the first of its kind in Denmark. With a combination of craftsmanship, architecture, and materials the project seeks to strengthen the respect for and promote a positive image of the craft professions, to attract more young people to these educational paths. Carefully selected, honest, natural, and often traditional building materials have been used, chosen for their architectural properties and beautiful textures, ensuring longevity and a charming, warm, and dignified aging process.

The main architectural concept of the Craft College results in a distinctive building that, through its choice of materials and construction, conveys a sense of rustic strength while also creating an atmosphere that is unpretentious and homely. Large spaces, smaller pockets, and intimate rooms form a cohesive framework that connects active zones, residences, and the tranquil garden. The Craft College consists of several elements: a workshop and communal area that respond to the city’s scale and enclose a lush garden space with a rainwater basin, as well as a cluster of residences arranged around shared courtyards. The construction demonstrates how traditional materials and craftsmanship methods, when combined with forward-thinking, modern architecture, can result in a beautiful, functional, and unique building. The college thus serves as a living catalogue of good solutions — in craftsmanship, architecture, and materiality alike.

The design process has focused on achieving the perfect balance between functionality, durability, and aesthetics, where one aspect does not exclude the others. An informal atmosphere is conveyed through the simplicity and robustness of the materials. These are solid materials, yet unpretentious choices aimed at providing users with an aesthetic and functional architectural experience. The materials are grounded in a Nordic palette. Douglas fir from local forests is used for constructions, and a reddish recycled brick is used for the exterior facade. Oak is utilized for fittings, fixtures, windows, and floors. Significant effort has been invested in finding the most sustainable solutions and using materials where they are most appropriate in terms of durability and functionality. The classical materials and craftsmanship methods are integrated with modern architecture that draws on traditional craft techniques while also embracing new and innovative solutions.