Faaborg Harbour Bath and Blue Base

The new Faaborg Harbour Bath and Blue Base at the southern end of Fyn, is based on the idea of bathing in the sea and close to the elements. The concept of the bath is based on the idea of creating an open sea bathing area with piers branching out seawards creating swimming areas between them.

The various functions define every pier in the bath. This creates a "finger plan" with open basins between four baths bridges of different width and length, where each bridge offers a new way to get in the water on and in which each pool has a specific use. The wooden piers form ramps, stairs, sitting opportunities and small pools for children. The Harbour Bath has changing rooms, a sauna and a 300 m² meeting point for boat tourism on land. The Faaborg Harbour Bath will give the town of Faaborg a new public water space which will attract visitors and invite the locals to swim and enjoy water sports.

With the opening of the Harbor Bath, the inner-city waterfront of Faaborg has finally opened for bathing and recreation / public activity. This new public space on the water adds a new dimension of re-creational activity to the beautiful South Funen Archipelago. The Harbour Bath is designed to tie a closer link between the city and the sea. Three thematic piers give room for everyone: toddlers, children and young people can go wild while others enjoy the view of Faaborg Fjord. The “finger plan” with open basins between the three piers, offers multiple ways to approach the water. The wooden piers form ramps, stairs, sitting opportunities and small pools for children. The new development invites to take a bath, go on a kayak-tour, go for a walk or just sit in the sun or simply enjoy an exciting and active public space. The project invites for swimming and on-water actvity. It offers changing rooms and facilities for rowers, a diving platform, a water-playground and a sauna for the winter-bathers. The architects’ intention was not to over-program the project in advance, but to create a frame for an unknown content, a place for public life to unfold, the unexpected to happen, in other words a place that people can adapt in their own ways. Faaborg Harbour Bath has given the town of Faaborg a new public water-space that facilitates activity and attracts locals as well as visitors to swim and enjoy water sports or just experience the fantastic waterfront. The project is collectively designed by URBAN AGENCY and JDS with the support of Sloth Møller Engineers and CREO for the municipalify of Faaborg-Midtfyn with support fromt he Realdania Foundation and the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities.