soon to open on copenhagen’s paper island

Kengo Kuma & Associates ‘ KAI Water Culture House is set to open on December 5th, 2026, on Copenhagen ‘s Papirøen (Paper Island). Bringing ten swimming pools to the city’s harborfront, the 5,800-square-meter spa introduces a new place for swimming and bathing along a waterfront that has gradually shifted from industrial use toward public recreation.

The building is recognizable at once by its five irregular brick towers, which rise above a continuous band of glass at ground level. Their sloping walls form a clustered silhouette along the quay, with spaces between the volumes opening toward the sky. From the harbor, the heavy masonry appears to hover over the transparent base.…