Kengo Kuma Designs Brick Towers for Copenhagen Pool

Renowned architecture studio Kengo Kuma & Associates has unveiled its striking waterfront project, the Water Culture House—also known as KAI—in Copenhagen, Denmark. The building is instantly recognizable by its five irregular brick towers that rise above a continuous band of glass at ground level. Their sloping walls form a clustered silhouette along the quay, creating a visual effect where the heavy masonry appears to hover over the transparent base.

The forms of the towers in Copenhagen directly respond to the swimming pools housed beneath them. Approximately 300,000 handmade bricks cover the angular surfaces, featuring varying gray tones that harmonize with the surrounding harbor architecture. The masonry is laid in a stepped pattern, giving the sloping walls a textured finish that interacts dynamically with changing daylight. Additionally, 403 windows of different sizes puncture the facades to bring natural light deep into the bathing chambers.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

One of the most distinctive features is the Valley Pool, an open-air swimming basin positioned on the first floor between the five brick towers. Visitors can swim surrounded by textured masonry with a direct view of the sky above. On the same level, a heated outdoor onsen overlooks Copenhagen Harbour, drawing on Japanese bathing traditions. Both outdoor pools are designed for year-round use, powered by a ground-source heat pump system connected to ten boreholes extending 250 meters underground.

At ground level, KAI contains a 25-meter fitness pool, a teaching pool, and three children's pools, while upper levels feature warmer bathing areas, a cold plunge pool, saunas, and a steam bath. Spanning 5,800 square meters, the facility is set to officially open on December 5, 2026, with public harbor bathing boardwalks expected to follow in early 2027.

Source: designboom