Completed in 2013 on the western coast of Bornholm—a small Danish island located south of Sweden—the Hasle Harbour Bath by White Arkitekter is one of a number of waterfront bathing facilities appearing in Denmark. Structures such as the Hasle Harbour Bath, the Kastrup Sea Bath, also by White Arkitekter, and the Copenhagen Harbour Bath by BIG + JDS, evoke images of a bracing coexistence with natural elements. If hygge, the Danish art of cosiness, has been one of the country’s most successful cultural exports in recent years, the idea of a refreshing dip in the Baltic Sea offers a counterpart—a ying to hygge’s yang.
But what impact do these facilities have on the people that live with them? And what can such structures do beyond offering a platform from which to dive into the water? In this 2-minute video, White Arkitekter follows up with the community of Hasle to find out how the Harbour Bath has brought people together, created a relaxing getaway, and reconnected the harbor with Bornholm’s spectacular sunsets.