On each island is an enclosed block of four-to-seven stories, surrounding a sheltered courtyard with public access.

The development was designed by the Danish firm of architects Arkitema in collaboration with the Dutch architects Sjoerd Soeters, but to ensure a varied cityscape the facades of individual townhouses were designed by 20 different architecture practices.

[1] The Sluseholmen peninsula used to house heavy industry, including a Ford car factory.

As industry left the area, a plan was conceived to develop Sluseholmen into a canal district.

Arkitema drew up a list of rules governing the materials used, colours, and the proportions of the facade designs.