Homes that allow for both socialising and privacy – that was the starting point for the architecture of the Strandhusene (“Beach Houses”) senior homes, which as their name suggests are located right on the shore, overlooking the town of Haderslev, the fjord and the harbour. The four blocks are placed in a common green space, where residents have access to a communal building with a terrace that also overlooks the harbour and the fjord. The houses, each containing twelve residences, with three on each floor, embrace each other in pairs, and in this way create a common arrivals area which provides possibilities for relaxation and socialising with other residents. The way in which the social angle characterises the building can also be seen in the stairway, where a narrow window at each front door provides a peek into each apartment, and small niches at each entrance provide residents with the opportunity to install a few personal items and furniture in the stairwell – like a kind of front garden. The option of socialising or not is always up to the individual, who can also choose the privacy of the homes and the balconies. The Beach Houses are constructed in dark brick – a material redolent of solidity and the harbour environment. The window frames around the windows and the balcony railings are in brighter shades, providing a lighter contrast to the brick building.