Blok P, in Nuuk, was the largest residential building in all of Greenland. It contained around 320 apartments and it is said that approximately 1% of the total population of the entire island lived in the building. [1] The building was demolished on 19 October 2012. [2]
The building was built and erected in 1965–1966 as part of the Danish parliament Folketing's programme since 1953 to modernize and urbanize the Greenlandic infrastructure by moving people away from the coastal settlements which were deemed "unprofitable, unhealthy and unmodern".
When it was built it was the largest building construction in the Kingdom of Denmark. [3] The size and floor plan of the apartments were entirely unsuitable for the Inuit lifestyle, with narrow doorways making it difficult, or sometimes impossible to enter and exit wearing thick cold weather clothing, and common European style wardrobes were too small to store fishing gear. This gear was then stored on the balconies, blocking fire exits and creating a security hazard. [4] During the first years there were minor problems with coagulated blood clogging up the drainage, stemming from the fishermen using the only available reasonable place to carve up their catch: the bathtubs.
The building was only five stories high but at a length of 64 apartments, translating to over 200 metres, it cut right across Nuuk in an east–west direction. Blok P was generally viewed very unfavourably by the local population, and it was even presented to tourists as "so depressing that it's almost an attraction in itself". [5]
The Greenlandic Home Rule in conjunction with Nuuk City Council proposed a plan in 2010 to dismantle and sanitize the building. The residents were mainly offered housing in Qinngorput. [6] The building was dismantled in five stages, starting in 2011 with the final stage of land clearing and handover in 2014.
The city has held hearings and workshops for future development of the area in a 2024 plan.
The northern end of the building was decorated with the largest known Greenlandic flag. The flag, which consisted of discarded articles of clothing, was sewn by a local artist – Julie Edel Hardenberg – with the help of schoolchildren. [7]
Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the largest of three constituent parts of the kingdom, the other two being metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands; the citizens of all territories are full citizens of Denmark. Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union. The capital and largest city of Greenland is Nuuk. Greenland lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is the world's largest island, and is the location of the northernmost point of land in the world—Kaffeklubben Island off the northern coast is the world's northernmost undisputed point of land; Cape Morris Jesup on the mainland was thought to be so until the 1960s. Economically, Greenland is heavily reliant on aid from Denmark, amounting to near half of the territory's total public revenue.
The economy of Greenland is a high-income economy characterized as small, mixed and vulnerable. Greenland's economy consists of a large public sector and comprehensive foreign trade. This has resulted in an economy with periods of strong growth, considerable inflation, unemployment problems and extreme dependence on capital inflow from the Kingdom Government.
Nuuk is the capital of and most populous city in Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Nuuk is the seat of government and the territory's largest cultural and economic center. Nuuk is also the seat of government for the Sermersooq municipality. In January 2024, it had a population of 19,872, – more than a third of the territory's population – making it one of the smallest capital cities in the world by population. Nuuk is considered a modernized city.
The University of Greenland is Greenland's only university. It is in the capital city of Nuuk. Most courses are taught in Danish, a few in Greenlandic and classes by exchange lecturers often in English.
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality located at the head of the fjord of the same name. It was Greenland's main air transport hub and the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport until the new airport opened at Nuuk on 28 November 2024. The airport dates from American settlement during and after World War II, when the site was known as Bluie West-8 and then Sondrestrom Air Base.
The Inatsisartut, also known as the Parliament of Greenland in English, is the unicameral parliament of Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm. Established in 1979, it meets in Inatsisartut, on the islet of Nuuk Center in central Nuuk.
Nuuk Airport is an international airport serving Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The airport is the hub and technical base for Air Greenland, the flag carrier airline of Greenland, linking the capital with almost all towns in the country and international destinations. International routes are also provided by Icelandair on a year-round basis as well as SAS and United Airlines on a seasonal basis. Most international journeys to or from Greenland pass through this airport.
Sisimiut, also known by its Danish name Holstensborg or Holsteinsborg, is the capital and largest city of the Qeqqata municipality, the second-largest city in Greenland, and the largest Arctic city in North America. It is located in central-western Greenland, on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately 320 km (200 mi) north of Nuuk.
Greenlanders, also called Greenlandics or Greenlandic people, are an Inuit ethnic group native to Greenland. They speak Greenlandic, an Eskaleut language.
Qinngorput is a district of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. It is located near to the east-northeast of Nuuk Centrum, south of Nuuk Airport, approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) outside of the city centre.
Nuussuaq is a district of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, It is located in the northern part of the city, west and southwest of Nuuk Airport, approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) outside the city center.
The Greenland National Museum is located in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. It was one of the first museums established in Greenland, inaugurated in the mid-1960s. The museum has many artefacts related to archaeology, history, art, and handicrafts and also has information about ruins, graveyards, buildings etc. It is based in a warehouse which was built in 1936.
Nuuk Art Museum is a local museum in Greenland, located in Nuuk, the capital. The museum contains a notable collection of paintings, watercolors, drawings, graphics, figures in soapstone, ivory, and wood, with many items collected by the businessman Svend Junge. Of particular note is a collection of over 150 paintings by Emanuel A. Petersen.
Moravian Brethren Mission House or Herrnhut House is a historical building in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, established in 1747 from timber shipped to the United Brethren from the Netherlands. It was the centre of the Moravian Brethren Mission in Greenland and the missionaries operated across the west coast of Greenland from this building. Greenlander converts were reported saying, "If it can be so beautiful here on Earth, how wonderful must it not be in Heaven."
Kalaaliaraq Market is a fresh food market in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. It is located in the Old Nuuk neighborhood, approximately 150 m (490 ft) to the southeast of the Nuuk Cathedral, and its name means "The little Greenlander" in the Greenlandic language. It is the largest fresh food market in Greenland.
Atuagkat Bookstore was Greenland's only bookstore, located in the capital Nuuk. It was located at Aqqusinersuaq 4.
Eksperimentet is a 2010 Danish drama film written and directed by Louise Friedberg, and starring Ellen Hillingsø. The film premiered on 28 August 2010 in the Katuaq Culture Centre in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The release date of the film in Denmark was 9 September 2010.
Greenlandic independence is a political ambition of some political parties, advocacy groups, and individuals of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, to become an independent sovereign state.
Nuuk Center, also shortened NC, is a shopping mall located in Nuuk, Greenland. The mall, which is the first shopping mall in Greenland, was inaugurated on July 27, 2012. Located next door to the Katuaq Culture Centre, the mall is focused on offering services to a broad spectrum of customers. Above the mall is an 8-story office tower with 7,000 square metres of space. Nuuk Center is the largest and tallest building in Greenland.