3XN wins competition to design waterfront Climatorium in Lemvig, Denmark

3XN has won a competition to build Denmark’s new international climate center, the Climatorium, in the Danish city of Lemvig. Their design not only aims to tell a story about climate change, but also celebrate the area's cultural history as a fishing town. The Climatorium will serve as a strong information center, hosting exhibitions and conferences about issues surrounding climate change as well as concerts and events. The program also includes a café and hang-out space, with hopes of it becoming a new local meeting place. 

According to the architects, the wave design shapes the entrance and lends a distinct and easily understood identity. "The wave tells the story of the site and also refers to the serious challenges we face as a result of climate change,” says Jan Ammundsen, Senior Partner and Head of Design at 3XN. Using a light-toned wood inspired by nearby boat halls, the wave motif also draws on the area’s cultural history and local building tradition as a fishing town.

Though a simple two-story structure, the height and placement of the building are carefully designed with respect to the existing buildings on the harbor front. The undulating landscape around the building is called the Climate Wedge and is structured along meteorological isobar lines representing prevailing wind conditions in Lemvig. This design also interacts with the soft lines of the nearby skate park and forms an intuitive route through the landscape.

Scheduled to be completed by 2020, "the Climatorium will become a signature building that reflects local traditions and adds a contemporary element to Lemvig Harbor."