A crumpled napkin a forgotten meeting a city’s transformation. This is the story of Europaplads in Aarhus. Picture this bustling square its history etched into the very stones beneath your feet.
Europaplads wasn’t always a prominent square. In the late 1950s Aarhus faced a crisis. Housing construction and population growth stagnated. The city was bursting at the seams. Businesses struggled. Many moved to suburbs. The old city center was a mess. Old buildings were dilapidated lacking even basic amenities like hot water.
Then came a pivotal moment. A meeting between BP Oil and a local lawyer S Storm Mortensen. BP sought a new headquarters. Aarhus’s central location was ideal. The details of this meeting were recorded on a simple napkin.
The search for suitable land was challenging. Most areas were already developed. However a solution emerged. The old customs building near the harbor was in terrible shape. This area known as “Brændevin-øen” or Brandy Island because of its many pubs and bars was ripe for redevelopment.
The city began a large-scale renovation. Old buildings were demolished creating space for new developments. The demolition was quite dramatic. A huge concrete block swung from a crane smashing old structures. It was a spectacle for many Aarhus residents.
Enter the architects Knud Blach Petersen and Herbert Jensen. They designed a sleek modern 12-story building. It was the tallest building in Aarhus at the time. Pre-fabricated concrete elements made construction quick and inexpensive. The building used 4 600 000 kilos of reinforced concrete. It was finished in 1959 and became known as BP-huset.
In 1960 Aarhus received a prestigious European Prize for its work in European and international cooperation. Mayor Bernhardt Jensen then named the square next to the BP-building Europaplads. The mayor’s words at the time still resonate. He said it was a great joy that BP had chosen Aarhus as its mid-Jutland headquarters.
Over time the building’s facade deteriorated. In 1993 it underwent extensive renovation. Today it is called Europahuset a fitting name. The Europaplads continues to evolve its history a testament to urban renewal resilience and international collaboration. It is a vital part of Aarhus’s vibrant waterfront. A place where past and present coexist a story revealed in every corner.