AlastairMcKenzie.com

Waterfront regeneration is all the rage these days. Hull has done it, Portsmouth has done it, Cardiff has done it, and over on the continent lots of port cities are up to the same thing - the latest being Denmark's third largest city, Aalborg.

'Phase One' of their £35 million waterfront regeneration programme sees the completion, this month, of Nordkraft a new cultural centre redeveloped from a disused power station with dramatic views over the Limfjord.

Nordkraft comprises a music and arts venue capable of staging concerts for up to 8,000 people; two concert halls (seating 1,500 and 700 respectively); an art house cinema; two theatres; a music school and galleries as well as sports, teaching and education facilities.

The new arts centre with its industrial style complements another new waterside building, the Utzon Center, which celebrates the life of world famous architect and former resident Jorn Utzon (designer of the Sydney Opera House).

In order to ease accessibility to Nordkraft and once again link the waterfront with the city's historic districts and main shopping area, the main highway, which has acted as a physical divide, is being relocated giving way to new park and pedestrianised areas. In addition to this landscaping, the continued regeneration programme will include the redevelopment of other historic waterside buildings as well as the construction of a new shopping centre, hotels, restaurants and bars scheduled for completion by 2010... ready for us to enjoy as a city break destination next year.