Deane Goltermann Mar 21:

Seems you sailed safely into harbor Port administration building strikes me as a great suggestion. Maybe you should offer it as an answer? ;-)

Charlesp (asker) Mar 21:

to respond Mr Deane I should shanty say that your efforts go beyond the call of the Harbour Master.
Anyway, that was my point -- that the term/name is vague and not clearly defined. It could be many different things. (and the client here has IMPO misnamed it.)

Charlesp (asker) Mar 21:

to respond to Michael Ellis it is a port administration building

Michael Ellis Mar 21:

Context Charles, You say "I know what a hamnhus is" Tell us what you know in Swedish or English and we might be able to narrow it down.

Deane Goltermann Mar 20:

Depends on your context! Is this the building where the harbo(u)rmaster has their office? Or is this a modern housing development built along the disused wharf or harbor shoreline? I looked up your term and got many more hits for the latter (which surprised me). The latter could be called many things for marketing purposes, as say, Harbor View, Port View, Quay Apartments (or Estates), or whatever. Here's the idea https://www.harborviewnavyyard.com/

In any case I suggest against using Porterhouse Apartments or such! ;-)

Then I found Harbor Master's Shanty ... but still not a real suggestion...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourmaster#:~:text=An examp...

Charlesp (asker) Mar 20:

I agree with SafeTex .

SafeTex Mar 20:

@ charles and all Personally, I think a town or city might name it in accordance with the name of the location, the geographical features (natural harbour?) and the activities there. We say the Port of Dover so there it would likely be named "Port House", but elsewhere it might be better named "Harbour House"

Christopher Schröder Mar 20:

Pork house is an option but I prefer the more literal ham house. But whatever you do don’t fall into the trap of calling it a bacon house.