VOXPOP: Dream campus: Green areas, soft sofas and electric kettles

Omnibus has asked our everyday experts, the students, what they think is important to keep in mind when AU designs its brand-new campus area in the hospital buildings and areas on Nørrebrogade in Aarhus.

Mathilde Reinecke and Nanna Rubin, both second semester history students:  

"Common areas, reading rooms, places to work and kitchen facilities for the students are important. We’re here to work and we arrive in the morning with our books and computer, so it's nice to have areas that are good for sitting and studying, where you can heat your lunch up in a microwave and boil water for a cup of coffee.

Sofas and green plants help as well. I’d also like outdoor areas that can be used for study group meetings in the summer. If the new campus is attractive enough, we would cross the road to use the facilities." 

Frederik Kjær, ninth semester information studies student:

"I study at Katrinebjerg, where you don’t really have a sense of being part of a campus environment.

But the layout of the Nygaard Building actually works well, so that could be a source of inspiration. Here the auditorium is centrally placed in the building. Above it is the library, while the basement has a room with a pool table and hammocks. There also plenty of student places. All of which provides a good coherence and an environment where some students are on the way to lectures, others are sitting and studying, and some are relaxing."  

Lise Ollendorff, seventh semester theology student:

"You shouldn’t intermingle too many degree programmes in one place like they’ve done here in the Nobel Park.

We’re too different. In my opinion, it’s better for the study environment and sense of togetherness to gather a few degree programmes together that are in the same ‘family’.

It’s also important to prioritise green areas, trees, bushes, tables and benches, so the outdoor areas aren’t just parking spaces, stone and concrete.

That’s not very recreational. It works well in the University Park, but everything seems so industrial here in the Nobel Park."

Emil Andreasen Klahn and Mikkel Krægpøth, both sixth semester chemistry students:

"There needs to be some free space with sofas you can relax in. Having space to do something apart from studying has an effect on the study environment. It makes people want to be here and does something for your affiliation with the university.

There also needs to be good rooms for group work – with proper blackboards and chalk! Smartboards are too slow and the markers for whiteboards have always dried out."

Mads L.A. Larsen, Janus Kramer Møller and Kathrine B. Henriksen, all fourth semester physics students:

"There must be some green areas, which create a cosy atmosphere. It’s also nice to sit and study in a park during the summer. It would be obvious to take a good look at the University Park as it works well.

Also, there’s an almost constant shortage of study spaces here. So they need to make sure there are enough study spaces. Preferably with boards, decent sockets (read: round sockets with earth) and access to an electric kettle and microwave oven, so you can heat food and make a cup of coffee.

They should also think about making sure there is enough light in the rooms and decent acoustics." 

READ MORE: "Build the campus you need, but start by finding an overall concept."

Photos: Maria Randima


Facts: From municipal hospital to campus

In 2019, Aarhus University will take over the land and buildings on Nørrebrogade that previously housed the municipal hospital – currently Aarhus University Hospital. AU expects to be able to begin moving research and teaching activities to the new area during 2020 at the earliest, as the site must first undergo a renovation.

The buildings total 110,000 m2. Several were designed by the architect C. F. Møller, who also designed the university buildings in the University Park.

AU does not have the right to self-governance. The university is therefore leasing the buildings from the Forskningsfondens Ejendomsselskab A/S (FEAS), who purchased the buildings from the Central Denmark Region for a price of DKK 807.5 million.

Facts: AU's vision for the new campus:

  • To consolidate and strengthen a variety of the university’s research activities, both by expanding existing activities and relocating some of the activities that are currently spread over various locations.
  • To take the opportunity to renovate existing research and teaching facilities and to add new research facilities.
  • Other developments under consideration include researcher and student housing and extended collaboration with both established and new businesses.

 Translated by Peter Lambourne