A Danish visitor center has been cleverly built into a hill.
The Skamlingsbanken in Kolding – which looks like a Hobbit house or even the setting of Teletubbies – is located in a place of cultural significance.
CEBRA architects explain that the glacial landscape “holds a central place in Danish history and over time has been the scene of debates about democracy, the border country and women’s suffrage”.
In the past, Skamlingsbanken – due to its hilly landscape with dips and hills – was a natural gathering point sheltered from the wind, and many civil gatherings and festivals therefore took place here.
Carsten Primdahl, partner and architect at CEBRA, says: “Skamlingsbanken connects the past with the present and the future, and one of the main ambitions of the project has been to update the remarkable history and nature of the place in a contemporary context.
“The new visitor center is a modern arena for democratic culture and recreates Skamlingsbanken as a setting for important debates and education about things that concern us, for example, climate change.
“At Skamlingsbanken, we have created a place where visitors can learn about our democracy and nature through a variety of experiences.”
The center is designed as a natural, integrated part of the hilly landscape and from the overall design down to the small details, visitors will experience architecture that has its origins in the unique nature and history of Skamlingsbanken.
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It is located on the highest point in South Jutland and consists of a former pasture landscape. Several native species are rare and when developing the visitor center it was crucial to protect the fauna and flora of the site.
Together with the biologist Mette Keseler List from the municipality of Kolding, a special mixture of herbs based on local species was developed and spread on and around the building.
The mixture provides optimal conditions for local grasses and, together with the reuse of natural peat from the site, the project thus supports the continued development of unique local nature and biodiversity.
“The Visitor Center is an architectural interpretation of the glacial landscape. It is not a destination in itself, but part of an overall narrative. The building is a portal to significant history and local nature and is a natural starting point for hikes in the area, where a network of trails traverse both the building and the landscape. From there, visitors are guided through the landscape or inside the center to the exhibition, the educational facilities or the café,” explains Carsten Primdahl.
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CEBRA says: “The main attraction of Skamlingsbanken is nature itself. When visitors enter the exhibition space, they will experience moving through the hill and its many hidden stories. The undulating back wall is plastered with clay, and the rest of the interior is characterized by local materials like wood, terrazzo with field stones and calm, earthy color tones.
Skamlingsbanken officially opened in 2021. It is hoped that an easing of pandemic restrictions will allow it to fully open in 2022.
CEBRA is currently working on a project that will further develop the visitor experience with an exhibition project in the landscape surrounding the visitor center. The project should be completed in the next few years.
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