focusing on the potential of the east jutland metropolitan area

Aarhus School of Architecture will be leading a study of the future opportunities for regional growth and structural development in East Jutland, also known as The East Jutland Metropolitan Area, an area which includes Business Region Aarhus and Triangle Region Denmark. Today, the area is Denmark’s largest unified growth area outside the Copenhagen Metropolitan Area; comprising a total of 19 municipalities, around 1.5 million inhabitants, and 700,000 workplaces, it covers a total area of just over 11,500 square kilometres.

Business Region Aarhus, Triangle Area Denmark, Aarhus School of Architecture, and The Realdania Foundation are behind the initiative, which The Realdania Foundation supports with DKK 2 million. Based on current data, statistical key figures and maps, the project will draw up scenarios for the region’s future development.

A project that will make a difference

The Head of Research at Aarhus School of Architecture, Charlotte Bundgaard, is looking forward to the future collaboration:

“Aarhus School of Architecture is extremely happy to be part of the project. Our goal is to engage the school, our researchers and teachers in developing society and to be an active sounding board for the local community. To us, this very ambitious development project is an opportunity to really make a difference.”

Professionals, government officials and politicians working together

The analytical work is carried out by a project group consisting of Tom Nielsen, professor at Aarhus School of Architecture, Urban Planning Consultant Holger Bisgaard, and Architect Boris Brorman Jensen. Assistant professors Katrina Wiberg and Martin Odgaard from Aarhus School of Architecture also contribute to the project. The project is carried out in collaboration with The Danish Town Planning Institute, which provides the secretariat for the project. The project also comprises an advisory board for the analytical work consisting of representatives from the two business regions and the 19 municipalities involved as well as carefully chosen professionals.

At a conference, which will be held in the spring of 2019, the results of the analysis will be presented, and all 19 municipalities involved in the collaboration will be invited to participate in the work to come.

A strategic foundation for developments

The chairmen of the two business regions, Mayor of Norddjurs Municipality Jan Petersen, Business Region Aarhus, and Mayor of Vejle Municipality, Jens Ejner Christensen, Triangle Area Denmark, look forward to working together:

”The East Jutland Metropolitan Area is a significant growth driver in Denmark, and we welcome research into the potential for development and growth in the area. We expect the project to provide a solid strategic foundation for various international, national and local investments.”