Open execution

The new prison building by Schmidt Hammer Lassen in Greenland is a social and architectural experiment: instead of massive fortress walls and sterile cells, there are large window openings and a homely atmosphere.

The Danish architecture firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen, in collaboration with Friis & Moltke, has realized the “Ny Anstalt” prison in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The Danish architects won the architectural competition in 2013 and it was completed in 2019. The island nation’s first prison has recently been in operation and represents a social and architectural experiment. A prison with unusual openness – and large panoramic windows for unrestricted views of the fjord and the rugged landscape of Greenland. The aim here is to create a sense of home rather than isolation.

Northeast of the capital, on the northern slope of a mountain overlooking the sea, the prison looks like a small village. The complex consists of a series of blocks positioned to follow the natural contours of the rocky landscape along the Greenland coast. The five buildings are arranged in such a way that the view over the prison walls into the landscape is possible from every building.

The prison complex sits on a concrete plinth that visually disappears into the slope and makes the upper floors appear to float. As a result, the flat structures rise above the base and open up on all sides with large windowsof varying designs and numbers. The buildings are clad in a Corten steel façade that stands out clearly from the base. Weathering will change the appearance of the steel façade over the coming years.

The architectural firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen designed the 8,000 square meter, three-storey complex as a cluster. Three residential blocks as well as workplaces, educational and sports facilities, a library, a health center and a chapel are spread over several levels and connected to each other via corridors and tunnels.

The three residential units each have 12 square meter cells for 76 inmates, 40 of which are in the closed section. A panoramic window illuminates the communal area. The barless windows give most inmates an unrestricted view of the sea from their rooms.

In the Nuuk Correctional Facility, as the prison is officially known, this is part of the government’s rehabilitation concept. In the prison building by Schmidt Hammer Lassen, contact with the surroundings, with the inmates’ homeland, should be as present as possible and thus support resocialization. In this island state with only 56,225 inhabitants, the reintegration of offenders into society is of particular importance. Many of the inmates come from Nuuk and still have family here. Prisoners and prisoners often know each other from their school days.

The architects at Schmidt Hammer Lassen want to support the inmates’ resocialization process through the design of the architecture. Openness, light, views, security and flexibility are the guiding principles in the design of the first facility of its kind in Greenland. According to the architects, the aim here was to use the “power of design to humanize the justice system”.

“Our project fits the unique and beautiful landscape and seeks a balance between punishment and resocialization. The whole idea behind the project is to give the complex a quality that supports reintegration into society and curbs physical and psychological violence,” says Morten Schmidt of Schmidt Hammer Lassen.

Wood and light colors as a humane interior

Inside, the architects at Schmidt Hammer Lassen sought to create a homely atmosphere and opted for simple, honest materials. Concrete and local wood therefore dominate here. Instead of sterile rooms made of cold, smooth materials, there is a bright, friendly interior, furnished with upholstered wooden furniture, wooden fixtures and open living areas, all in a light color palette. The residential wings are therefore communicative zones, equipped with open-plan kitchens and connected by fully glazed corridors. And there is always a strong connection to nature.

The cells are places of retreat and have their own bathroom and fridge. This may sound like the furnishings of a hotel – and yet it serves the purpose of the facility. After all, the Greenlandic prison system is primarily about reintegration. Even convicted murderers and rapists enjoy certain freedoms here during the day.

This concept of a “humane facility” imitates the rhythm and structure of everyday life. Accordingly, prisoners should have a greater chance of successful reintegration into society after their release with lower recidivism rates. The architecture of Schmidt Hammer Lassen und Inneneinrichtung aims to support this process.

Of course, the prison must also meet the latest security standards. It therefore has state-of-the-art surveillance technology, interlock systems and cameras in every corner. However, the technical and logistical infrastructure of the prison is visually restrained. Schmidt Hammer Lassen have also organized the surveillance in such a way that fewer staff than usual are required.

The Icefjord Centre in the town of Ilulissat, a cultural and community center, is also embedded in the Greenlandic landscape. Find out more here!