Maribo Halfway-House
The former Maribo Detention center has been transformed through adaptive use into a modern Halfway House with accommodation for 20 residents – both man and women-, supported by updated staff facilities and enhanced outdoor areas. The project reimagines the historic correctional site as a welcoming and functional transitional facility, emphasizing rehabilitation, security, and community integration.
Outdoor upgrades include recreational zones, a sports field, bicycle parking, and a playground for visiting children. The entrance courtyard has been revitalized with new paving, lighting, and plantings, offering a more inviting and accessible arrival experience.
These improvements enhance social sustainability by strengthening everyday interaction and shared outdoor activity.
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Lead Consultant
Construction Management
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The Danish Prison and Probation Service
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Maribo, Denmark
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2,181 m² + Landscape areas
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Completed 2022-2025
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SWECO Danmark, Engineering
BARA-Land, Landscape
Facts
A heritage site renewed
The building complex includes the three-story heritage-worthy building alongside later additions from the 1970s and 1980s. A comprehensive interior renovation has modernized the entire facility. All resident rooms have been refurbished with new flooring, painted surfaces, and updated bathroom and toilet facilities.
Communal amenities such as a shared kitchen, lounge, and workshop have been introduced to foster a sense of autonomy and belonging that supports community reintegration. The main building also houses offices and staff areas, ensuring safe and efficient operations.
Renovation
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![Before and after view of the staircase renovation at Maribo Halfway House]()
The corridor has been decluttered and upgraded with new steel railings and enlarged window openings, allowing daylight to flow deeper into the space. These changes create a calmer and safer circulation environment that reflects the project’s focus on social sustainability.
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![Before and after comparison of the terrace at Maribo Halfway House]()
What was once a stark, cage-like outdoor space has been transformed into a welcoming terrace, dressed in warm colors and natural materials—more reminiscent of a cozy backyard than a prison yard
What was once a stark, cage-like outdoor space has been transformed into a welcoming terrace, dressed in warm colors and natural materials—more reminiscent of a cozy backyard than a prison yard. -
![Before and after comparison of the entrance at Maribo Halfway House.]()
In the arrival corridor, adaptive reuse replaces the worn shed with natural materials, reused tiles, and planted seating zones, creating a more welcoming and socially sustainable space adding a subtle material contrast to the space.
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![Before and after comparison of a resident room at Maribo Halfway House]()
Former rooms with barred windows have been transformed into bright, home-like spaces with larger openings for daylight. Simple furniture, warm materials, and personal storage options create a sense of normalcy that supports everyday routines and community reintegration.
Comprehensive modernization
The project included a full-scale renovation of the building envelope and all technical installations, with the construction of a new roof structure, replacement of firewalls, and installation of new windows and doors, including a rescue opening at the guardroom.
To complete the transformation, the building has been fitted with a new timber roof structure, a steel emergency staircase, and new steel railings throughout corridors and stairwells—balancing safety, functionality, and historical sensitivity while reinforcing principles of adaptive reuse.
Together, these structural upgrades strengthen long-term durability and contribute to climate-resilient infrastructure.
