After several years of construction, a date has now been set for when the new billion-kroner water culture center in Copenhagen's harbor will open for swimming enthusiasts and water lovers.
When the new water culture center KAI opens its doors in December, a water experience out of the ordinary awaits, Copenhagen Municipality promises. (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj) 47 min. ago
Now there is good news for avid swimmers and other water lovers. At long last, the new water culture center KAI is opening.
The doors will open on 5 December, when the public can jump into the water and enjoy a water experience out of the ordinary, Copenhagen Municipality promises.
- Pools on several levels, wellness, bathing opportunities in the harbor and a culture center. World-class architecture. A new meeting place has been created in the heart of Copenhagen Harbor, the municipality writes in a press release.
Located in the middle of Copenhagen's harbor quay, the new 5,800-square-meter water culture center invites Copenhageners, swimming clubs, cultural users and the city's guests to a bathing experience in a class of its own, with its 10 indoor and outdoor pools.
Here you can get a sneak peek at what some of the new water culture center will look like.
- The new water culture center will, among other things, have pools on several levels, wellness and bathing opportunities in the harbor. (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj)
- There is access to Copenhagen Harbor at KAI. (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj)
- Inside, a brand-new swimming hall has been built that the capital's swimming clubs can benefit from (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj)
- Through large glass sections, a visual connection is created with Paper Island and the harbor (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj)
1 / 4 The new water culture center will, among other things, have pools on several levels, wellness and bathing opportunities in the harbor. (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj) 1 / 4 There is access to Copenhagen Harbor at KAI. (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj) 2 / 4 Inside, a brand-new swimming hall has been built that the capital's swimming clubs can benefit from (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj) 3 / 4 Through large glass sections, a visual connection is created with Paper Island and the harbor (Photo: © Rasmus Hjortshøj) 4 / 4
KAI is designed by the Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma & Associates, which has been tasked with realizing the vision of a new architectural landmark on Copenhagen's waterfront.
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> I hope that KAI will become the city's new gathering place for water-loving Copenhageners
> and guests.
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When the building opens, the city gains a new meeting place where water, culture and architecture come together, says Lord Mayor Sisse Marie Welling (Socialist People's Party).
- Copenhagen is under pressure when it comes to swimming capacity, so it is hugely important that we now get new pools for adults and play pools for the little ones. I hope it will become the city's new gathering place for water-loving Copenhageners and guests, she says.
The water culture center is a Copenhagener idea. In 2015, Copenhagen Municipality held an ideas competition for a new cultural and leisure facility on Paper Island.
Here, Copenhageners submitted 160 proposals, the vast majority of which included a wish for a swimming facility with room for peace and immersion, as well as a meeting place for local club life.
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The name is KAI
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The name KAI is a tribute to the meeting between Danish and Japanese architecture and culture. KAI refers to "sea" in Japanese, and in Danish the name creates associations with the building's location on the harbor quay on Paper Island in Copenhagen Harbor, the municipality writes.
The water culture center cost 989 million kroner to build. Copenhagen Municipality has contributed 443 million kroner to the project, while the Nordea Foundation has supported it with 546 million kroner.
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