Kongelunden

The Culture and Nature Park is home to Aarhus’ most important and oldest cultural institutions, while creating opportunities for nature to flow through the site. Denmark is not full of green space. In fact, Denmark is the fifth most cultivated country in the world and while there are natural gems and breathtaking landscapes, every inch must be prioritised and protected.

National Parks, Nature Parks and Biodiversity Forests are rapidly popping up all over Denmark. Aarhus is being overlooked, despite it being home to endangered species, migratory bird habitats and valuable forests. The Kongelunden Masterplan celebrates the natural elements that exist already, while simultaneously creating a new narrative and connecting the city of Aarhus with its vast coastal forest.

TYPE Vision | Strategy
LOCATION Aarhus | DK
YEAR 2020

APPROACH

Map of Danish Nature

The Connected Forrest

The Connected Forrest

The Connected Forrest

Nature Structure

Social Structure

Cultural Structure

Our approach to this project has been via three structures, Nature, Culture and Social. The structures make it possible for culture and nature to coexist, for humans and animals to become neighbours. Nature: this comes from a thorough understanding of the spatial value of forests and meadows, and how they benefit humans and animals. Our response was to create spaces for a variety of biotopes, each connection, so all visitors can travel safely through the landscape regardless of how many legs they have. Culture: A football stadium, horse racing track, handball court, velodrome and tennis court are housed under one roof. Previously they were neighbours with their back turned against each other, now they have been united in one sports and cultural destination. This not only accommodates sports but also festivals, concerts, theatres, large events, drawing visitors from all over Denmark. Social: The site connects the suburbs with the sea and the city centre to the north with the forest to the south. The social structure is the corridor between culture and nature, where in between, everything can happen. It is the spine where institutions and organisations can sprawl and interact; a place where people can meet and live.

Kongelunden

APPROACH

GALLERY

DRAWINGS