CEBRA embeds skamlingsbanken center into denmark's rolling meadows

an architectural portal to nature

danish architecture practice CEBRA embeds a new visitor center into the landscape of skamlingsbanken in kolding, denmark. the space takes shape as an architectural portal to the glacial landscape and its political history. the underground center is designed as an integrated part of the undulating landscape and from the overall design to the small details, visitors will experience an architecture that honors skamlingsbanken’s unique nature and history. the place has long been a public gathering spot, as it was sheltered from the wind with its undulating landscape with hollows and hills.

carsten primdahl, partner and architect at CEBRA comments: ‘skamlingsbanken connects the past with the present and the future, and one of the project’s main ambitions has been to actualize the place’s remarkable history and nature into a contemporary context. the new visitor centre is a modern arena for democratic culture and recreates skamlingsbanken as a setting for important debates and education about the things that concern us, e.g., climate change.’

images © adam mørk | @adammork

the swelling landscape by cebra

the rolling hills and meadows of skamlingsbanken drove the design of the visitor center by CEBRA (see more here). by elevating the landscape along two circular cuts, the space swells into a subtle insertion in the landscape, and is finally expressed as a softly curving hill. the project functions as an exhibition space to illustrate skamlingsbanken’s history, including nature, democracy, and the power of speech.

upon entering the center, visitors will experience moving through the landscape unearthing its many hidden stories. the corrugated back wall is plastered with clay, and the rest of the interior is characterized by local materials like wood, terrazzo with fieldstones and, calm, earthy color tones. the introvert and dimmed exhibition space culminates with a spectacular panoramic view towards the little belt strait. see designboom’s previous coverage here.

a reinterpretation of skamlingsbanken’s glaciers

commenting on the skamlingsbanken project, CEBRA partner carsten primdahl continues: ‘the visitor centre is an architectural interpretation of the glacial landscape. it is not a destination itself, but part of an overall narrative.

the building is a portal — to the significant history and the local nature — and forms a natural starting point for hikes in the area, where a network of paths flows through both building and landscape. from here visitors are guided into the landscape or inside the centre to the exhibition, the teaching facilities, or the café,’

the project is realized with a donation from the danish AP møller fonden (see more here).