Copenhagen is preparing to welcome a significant new addition to its waterfront this Saturday, December 5, with the opening of Kai. Designed by the Japanese architectural firm Kengo Kuma Associates, the 62,500-square-foot facility is described as a "water culture house" and marks the culmination of an eight-year development process. Originally scheduled for a 2021 launch, the project faced delays due to the pandemic and its subsequent effects before finally joining other architecturally distinct landmarks along the harbor, such as the Opera House and the Royal Danish Playhouse.
The building is located on Paper Island, a site formerly occupied by a food market that had stood empty for years before being redeveloped into a hub for hospitality businesses. Strategically positioned across from the tourist center of Nyhavn, the new bathhouse connects the old town with the gentrifying areas of Holmen and Refshaleøen. The interior features a minimalist design spread across several levels, anchored by an 82-foot pool on the ground floor. In total, Kai will offer ten pools, including an open-air rooftop pool and a heated onsen overlooking Copenhagen Harbor.
Sustainability and year-round accessibility are central to the facility's operation. While the harbor waters can be cold in winter, the outdoor first-floor pools utilize a sustainable vertical ground-source heat pump system to maintain heating throughout the year. The building also provides direct access to the harbor via designated swimming and dipping zones surrounding a timber boardwalk. To manage crowds, overall capacity is capped at 380 swimmers.
Despite its designer status, the project aims to remain accessible to the public. Tickets are expected to align with prices at other city-run water culture houses, typically costing under 100kr (approximately $10). The 989 million DKK ($150 million) initiative was funded by the City of Copenhagen and Nordea Fonden. The concept for a new central public pool originated from local surveys indicating a strong desire among residents for such a facility.
Copenhagen's Lord Mayor, Sisse Marie Welling, expressed enthusiasm regarding the opening, noting the city's need for more swimming facilities. She highlighted the importance of providing new pools for adults as well as paddling pools for children, hoping Kai will become a gathering point for both locals and visitors. This development continues Copenhagen's long-standing tradition of embracing water culture, which has evolved from floating pools introduced in the early 2000s to the current popularity of winter swimming clubs and cold plunging.
Sources: Condé Nast Traveler.