“Man kan se Himmelbjerget og hele Aarhus-bugten fra h øjhuset p å Langen æs” A journalist wrote this in 1959. He was at the housewarming party of Langen æshus. This impressive building boasts 14 floors. It stands tall at 46 meters. It offers breathtaking views.
Langen æshus is more than just an apartment building. It’s a community. Two residential blocks make up Langen æshus. They are located at Augustenborggade 21-23 in Aarhus. The buildings were constructed by a society. This society aimed to provide housing for elderly and single people. Construction took place in 1959 and 1963.
The architects J K Schmidt and Kaj Schmidt designed Langen æshus. Their design is quite similar to another building. That building is called Silkeborghus. The architects designed both buildings.
Langen æshus is a collective house. It offers a wide range of communal facilities. Residents share a part-time shopkeeper. They have access to party rooms a laundry room a common room a library and a TV room. There’s also a gym a workshop a sunroom and an orangery. Residents enjoy terraces a petanque court and a krolf course.
There are even guest rooms. Residents can rent these rooms for visitors. There’s a doctor’s office in the building. This office serves residents and others using public health insurance.
The building’s restaurant is a social hub. Initially residents received meal tickets with their rent. This system stopped in the 1980s. It was reinstated in 2012. Now each apartment receives 10 meal tickets per quarter.
Another social hub is the Langen æshus club. This club organises lectures and other activities. Residents participate in activities such as bridge gymnastics and petanque.
Langen æshus has 234 apartments. These apartments have one to three rooms. The residents are mainly elderly single people or elderly couples. Traditionally residents belonged to the upper middle class. Today the residents come from a broader range of backgrounds. One-room apartments are mainly occupied by students and young people.
There are special rules for residents. Children under 15 are not allowed to live permanently in the apartments. Apartments with more than one room are only for people over 40. Apartments are in high demand. Two and three-room apartments are especially popular.
Instead of buying a share residents buy a partial bond. This bond secures the right to live in an apartment. The bond yields a 5% interest on its nominal value. Partial bonds are used in various buildings in Denmark. They are most well known from Fredensborghusene designed by Jørn Utzon.
Some apartments have special clauses. The building’s administration handles the sale of these apartments. A long waiting list exists for these apartments. The building’s board approves all new residents. New residents are invited to an information meeting with the building’s administrator.
Langen æshus is a well-managed institution. It has a good economy. There is a strong focus on maintenance. The efficient administration is staffed with a caretaker and a heating engineer. A staff of about two full-time employees handle the administration. They manage Langen æshus and Langen æsbo.
So here we are. Standing before Langen æshus. A building that offers not just apartments but a unique community. A legacy from 1959 with stunning views and an enduring community spirit.