Vandtårnet

The water tower on Randersvej in Aarhus is the oldest structure of its kind in the city and is a listed monument. Built between 1907 and 1908, it originally supplied water to the northern district of Christiansbjerg, where the water supply was inadequate at the beginning of the 20th century and the groundwater was unhealthy. Because the area sat too high to be served by the water pressure of the time, the city council decided to build a tower on a hill 81.2 meters high. The tower supplied the area north of Ringgaden with water and remained in operation until 1980, when it lost its function following the municipal reform.

The structure was designed by Charles Wissing. Since the city had no skilled workers for reinforced concrete and there were concerns about durability, the tower was built of red brick on a granite base. It stands 38 meters tall and is topped with a conical copper roof crowned by a lantern and a weathervane. The entrance gate on the northeast side bears a date stone and the coat of arms of Aarhus. The tower originally housed an iron tank with a capacity of 200 cubic meters, which was accessible via a gallery offering wide views over the city.

After it was decommissioned, the tower was used in the 1990s by a foundation for a youth project, during which the water tank was removed and the interior was converted with concrete floors, a kitchen, and a banquet hall. Today the building belongs to the City of Aarhus, which has leased it to the Aarhus Academy since 2009. Visitors can experience the historic structure as a cultural and educational venue that reflects the city's development and the social history of the neighborhood.