New Ark is an urban space and artwork that addresses the pressing issue of sea level rise in Aarhus.

Created for the newly built Aarhus School of Architecture, the artwork is situated in an area where a vital river once flowed a century ago. The installation consists of 100 unique cast concrete tiles, three oversized lifebuoys, and steel seating elements—inviting students and passersby to engage with water’s dual nature as both a force of creation and destruction.

Equal parts artistic expression and scientific inquiry, New Ark reflects the essence of architectural education. The project revives the memory of Aarhus’ lost river while drawing attention to the city’s future challenges with rising sea levels—an issue today’s architecture students will be tasked with addressing. The work was realized through a digitally simulated performance, where lifebuoys were cast from surrounding buildings, forming a vast, undulating surface that echoed the movement of the sea.