SDU puts distinctive villa in Esbjerg into use
The University of Southern Denmark has now officially taken possession of Langlihus at Sædding Strandvej 18 in Esbjerg. The handover was marked at a reception in the villa on 4 May. The property was donated to SDU in 2025 by the Henning G. Kruse Foundation and will now be the setting for a number of academic activities.
Henning G. Kruse (1940-2022) created growth and development in Esbjerg and Southwest Jutland for decades and was behind several significant maritime companies in Esbjerg. He had the villa on Sædding Strandvej built in 1999 as a private residence, and since his death in 2022, the property has been owned by the Henning G. Kruse Foundation.
With the official transfer, Langlihus is now part of SDU. The university is already a significant player in Esbjerg and sees great potential in the house, which will be used for research and development activities, research stays, guest accommodation, meetings, seminars and representative purposes.
Investment in the city and the region
Langlihus provides SDU with a special setting in Esbjerg and will support the university's work with research, education and collaboration with the surrounding community.
– At SDU, our most important task is to contribute to society through research and education that makes a real difference. Therefore, we are both pleased and grateful that the Henning G. Kruse Foundation is now officially handing over the villa to the university, says SDU Rector Jens Ringsmose.
– This is a very generous donation, and we see it as a strong expression of confidence in SDU and the role we play in Esbjerg and Southwest Jutland. The villa provides us with a unique setting for academic activities, collaboration and development, and we will work to ensure that the building is used in a way that creates value and is in line with the foundation's intentions, he emphasises.
With the donation, the Henning G. Kruse Foundation wanted to ensure that the building will continue to contribute to development in Esbjerg and Southwest Jutland. With the transfer to SDU, the villa will have a function that is linked to the foundation's purpose and Henning G. Kruse's commitment to the region.
The facts
The villa faces the sea and was designed by Søren Nørgaard from Lolk Architects. In 2000, it was honoured by Esbjerg Byfond for good and distinctive new construction.
The building is just under 400 m² and has a maritime and simple architectural expression. The property is located opposite the Fisheries and Maritime Museum and next to Man Meets the Sea by Svend Wiig Hansen.
The Henning G. Kruse Foundation is a non-profit and charitable foundation founded in 2016 by Henning G. Kruse. The foundation supports research and business development projects that contribute to the continued development of Esbjerg and Southwest Jutland.