A sawtooth spiral of weathered-steel panels evokes the blades of an impeller at this pumping station in Denmark, designed by local firm GinnerupArkitekter.

Located on the harbour front of Svendborg, the wastewater pumping station was designed by GinnerupArkitekter as the anchor point of a new public square.

It is intended to demonstrate how utilitarian architecture can "contribute to the visual and social life of the harbour", the studio said.

While the pump rooms themselves sit eight metres below ground, the above-ground structure houses technical installations, public toilets and a rooftop terrace for the surrounding community.

"The visible building on the harbour is like the tip of an iceberg," partner Jens Erik Rasmussen told Dezeen.

"With its sculptural form and functional clarity, the building stands as a contemporary piece of utility architecture that invites public interaction while contributing significantly to the visual and social life of the harbour."

The sawtooth form of the cylindrical structure was chosen to reference a pump's impeller – a type of rotating rotor – with its weathered finish of brown, orange and grey tones also drawing on the maritime and industrial context of the nearby harbour.

Doors and access gates are concealed within these weathered panels, allowing direct access into both public areas, such as the toilets, and the technical areas.

"The choice of Corten steel for the facade reflects a desire to use beautiful, durable, and industrial material already familiar in harbour environments," said Rasmussen.

"Its red colour also harmonises well with the harbour’s historic red-brick buildings."

"The facade references the blades of a pump, creating a sense of visual movement and thereby establishing a narrative about the building’s hidden function," Rasmussen added.

Wrapping one side of the structure is a staircase alongside a lift leading up to the rooftop terrace, where an area of curved, stacked timber decking sits beneath a circular steel frame with built-in lighting to illuminate the terrace after dark.

The local municipality acted as the client for this rooftop deck, which provides visitors with information about the South Funen Archipelago visible in the distance, which was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2024.

According to GinnerupArkitekter, the pumping station also incorporates a heat recovery system, which has the potential to supply heat to over 200 homes.

Other pumping stations recently featured on Dezeen include the Kew Pumping Station in London by Hugh Broughton Architects, which is concealed by a screen of interlocking larch slats, and Johnson Naylor's conversion of a world war two pumping station into a holiday home on Dungeness beach.

The photography is by Jacob Due and GinnerupArkitekter unless stated otherwise.