THE MIDDLE PIER

The middle pier is a large pier at the central harbour in Aarhus, Denmark. The pier housed the former shipyard, Aarhus Flydedok, which is now closed. The pier is very close to the areas in the harbour, which have been designated for development, but is not part of the Municipality of Aarhus’ plan for the central harbour areas. The owner, Olav de Linde, wanted a project proposal showing some of the possibilities for reviving this stretch of the harbour and making it part of the new urban spaces being developed.

Kollision was asked to create a poster aimed at provoking a debate about the use of the central pier. The poster was sent out to members of the city council and other decision-makers in the city. The poster was based on letting the arm be a buffer zone between the newly planned central harbour area and the traditional commercial harbour (Grain, oil and container port). The basic idea for the project was to create an area, which would make a smooth transition between the city and harbour, a place where industry and culture was to meet and coalesce. Olav de Linde argued that there were unique opportunities in sustaining the industry at the central pier and simultaneously add new activities in the form of cultural activities - a local counterpart to the many cultural activities, which saw the light of day in Copenhagen an other cities in the same period. The area could include workshops, studios, film studios, office spaces, and restaurants alongside the traditional industries. The area's rawness, scale and location would appeal to many small businesses for whom rents and construction costs associated with business start-up is the main point.

It was also part of the concept to create a promenade on the side of the pier facing the city and open op the space to citizens, who could stroll the area and watch the city of Aarhus and the coastline from the waterfront – something that is not possible today.