Gammelhavn, Vejle

360 youth housing units in central Vejle.

Large-scale new development in Vejle to be built for developer NPV and AkademikerPension.

After more than a decade of planning, the joint venture between NPV and AkademikerPension is now underway with 84,000 m² of construction in collaboration with general contractor JCN Bolig on the Gammelhavn project in Vejle.

This agreement marks the culmination of years of development work, during which NPV, in cooperation with Vejle Municipality, has shaped the vision for the area. The centrally located site in Vejle, formerly home to a postal terminal, bus station, and freight yard, is being transformed into a new green urban district.

Gammelhavn is an urban development project with a primary focus on creating modern homes that integrate seamlessly with the existing city center. The homes vary in size to ensure a diverse mix of residents. Special emphasis has been placed on the choice of materials and interior design to make the residences as future-proof as possible.

The first phase includes three residential blocks totaling 16,000 m², comprising 63 owner-occupied units, 100 rental apartments, and 5 commercial units. It also includes the construction of part of Gammelhavn’s new public urban park, bordered by the three residential blocks and covering 4,000 m² of the park's total 9,000 m². Additionally, this phase includes 360 micro-living (student housing) units totaling 11,500 m².

In total, the Gammelhavn project comprises 46,500 m² of housing – 35,000 m² of family and student housing – as well as 4,200 m² of grocery retail, 2,000 m² of specialty retail, 1,700 m² for cafés, restaurants, showrooms, and service businesses, 8,700 m² of office space (The Hub), and a 21,000 m² parking facility with 700 parking spaces. A key feature of the project is the attractive green urban park. Gammelhavn will be connected to the existing city center through an extension of Vejle's main shopping street, Sønderbrogade.

The buildings are constructed using high-quality materials, including brick façades that harmonize with the existing urban fabric. The development follows a courtyard block design, with the inner courtyards serving as recreational spaces with greenery, seating areas, and places for community interaction. Some ground floors are built with increased ceiling height, intended for small-scale businesses such as cafés and shops.

NPV has decided that the entire Gammelhavn project will be DGNB Gold certified. With this, the developer contributes to Vejle’s sustainability goals and creates a new, holistic neighborhood with a strong focus on environmentally and socially responsible choices from the very beginning to final handover. This applies both to the buildings and the large inner garden, which actually consists of three interconnected gardens, each with its own unique green theme.

The architect for phase one is Sweco Architects, and the technical advisor is Viborg Ingeniørerne. Phase two, which includes the office building, grocery store, parking garage, and micro-living units, is designed by Henning Larsen Architects with Rambøll as technical advisor.