Danish architecture studio CEBRA embeds a new visitor centre into the landscape of Skamlingsbanken, a historic hill, in Kolding, Denmark that has been used as a setting for many historic events in Denmark's history, such as debates over the Schleswig-Holstein territory in the mid-19th century.

The visitor centre commemorates the history and significance of the site, however, the building is revealed only by two curved cutaways, taking shape as a window to the glacial landscape, resembling another knoll at the site, which is the highest point in Southern Jutland.
CEBRA Architecture, led by Mikkel Frost, Carsten Primdahl and Kolja Nielsen architects, won a competition to design the 500-square-metre building in 2016. While being sensitive to the landscape, the rolling hills and meadows of Skamlingsbanken drove the design of the visitor centre, the brief called for an exhibition space, teaching facilities and a cafe with a shop.

Upon entering the centre, 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 colour tones.

The exhibition space focuses on how the site was formed and how it has been used, while also exploring how democratic action is needed to solve the issues of today such as the climate crisis.

The introvert and dimmed exhibition space culminate with a spectacular panoramic view of the landscape.

«Skamlingsbanken conecta el pasado con el presente y el futuro, y una de las principales ambiciones del proyecto ha sido actualizar la notable historia y naturaleza del lugar en un contexto contemporáneo. El nuevo centro de visitantes es un escenario moderno para la cultura democrática y recrea Skamlingsbanken como un escenario de importantes debates y educación sobre las cosas que nos preocupan, por ejemplo, el cambio climático».
Carsten Primdahl, socio y arquitecto de CEBRA


Skamlingsbanken Visitor Center by CEBRA. Photograph by Adam Mørk.
 

Project description by CEBRA

Skamlingsbanken in southern Denmark holds a special place in recent Danish history. It has acted as a cultural gathering point for the people in the wake of radical political and societal changes, forming a natural stage for the voices of advocates for the Danish language, front-runners of the feminist movement or the celebration of the ending of WWII. The site is located at the highest point of an undulating moraine landscape with spectacular views over the Little Belt strait. CEBRA’s new visitor centre functions as an architectural gateway to Skamlingsbanken’s history and nature that aims at re-establishing this unique historic spot and distinctive landscape as a popular public meeting place.

Skamlingsbanken’s landscape was created during the last ice age and offers a rich and varied nature characterized by rolling hills and large meadows, and the scenic context has been the main inspiration for the design of the visitor centre. By elevating the landscape along with two circular cuts, the exhibition space becomes a subtle insertion in the landscape in the form of a softly curved hill.

The main attraction at Skamlingsbanken is nature itself. When visitors enter the exhibition space, they will experience moving through hill and 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 colour tones. The introvert and dimmed exhibition space culminate with a spectacular panoramic view towards the Little Belt Strait.

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 the 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 visitor centre today serves as a location for different events and houses an exhibition about Skamlingsbanken’s history: About nature, democracy, and the power of speech.

Preserves and develops local nature
The new visitor centre has been built in a protected area, and the landscape and biological values have been important focal points in the project. In close collaboration with the clients, foundations, landowners and the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the project team succeeded in expanding the protected area around the visitor centre from 35 hectares to 128.

Skamlingsbanken is located on the highest point in Southern Jutland and consists of an old grazing landscape. Several native species are rare, and during the development of the visitor centre, it has been crucial to protecting the site’s flora and fauna. In collaboration with a biologist from Kolding Municipality, a special grass mixture based on local species was developed and spread on and around the building. The mixture provides optimal conditions for the local herbs, and together with the reuse of natural peat from the building site, the project thus supports the continued development of the unique local nature and biodiversity.

More information

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Architects
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Collaborators
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Landscape.- Opland.
General Engineering.- DRIAS, Dansk Energi Management.
Exhibition Design.- YOKE.
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Client
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Kolding Municipality, Skamlingsbankeselskabet, Klokkestablen.
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Area
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500 m².
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Dates
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2016-2021.
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Location
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Skamlingsbanken land, on a historic hill, south of Kolding, southern Denmark.
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Photography
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CEBRA is a Danish architecture and design practice, founded in 2001 by architects Mikkel Frost, Carsten Primdahl and Kolja Nielsen. In 2017, architect Mikkel Hallundbæk Schlesinger entered the group of partners, and four Associate partners were appointed to consolidate the company’s management and business development. CEBRA is owned by the company’s four partners, who are always heading our creative work and strategic development.

CEBRA currently employs a multidisciplinary international staff of more than 65 architects, constructing architects, urban planners, landscape architects, academics, and administrative personnel. Our head office is in Aarhus, Denmark, with a branch office in Copenhagen, DK, and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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Published on: March 14, 2022
Cite: "Historical memory and landscape. Skamlingsbanken Visitor Center by CEBRA" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/historical-memory-and-landscape-skamlingsbanken-visitor-center-cebra> ISSN 1139-6415
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