Haralds Haven
A Restorative Condenser for Everyday Mental Well-being
S. Dirki (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Antonio Cantero – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)
G.Y. Warries – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
Sang Lee – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)
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Abstract
As cities grow denser and faster, so do the quiet pressures on our mental well-being. Haralds Haven is a hybrid public building that reimagines how architecture can contribute to emotional balance in daily urban life. Located in Haralds Quarter, Copenhagen, the project addresses rising levels of stress, loneliness, and overstimulation by offering a sequence of sensory-rich, inclusive, and restorative spaces.
The design weaves together six experiential themes - Green, Blue, Sensory, Active, Inclusive, and Playable - into a layered spatial network. From tranquil gardens and water elements to interactive zones and quiet corners, the building encourages movement, connection, and calm. It blends functions like community kitchens, creative studios, wellness spaces, and a central inner garden under a glass atrium, forming a place where people can pause, breathe, and simply be.
This is not a space for treatment, but one for support, a gentle framework that invites resilience through design. By translating psychological insights into spatial experiences, the project positions architecture as a quiet ally in the background of everyday life.
Because architecture cannot heal.
But it can help.