ADEPT + Møller & Grønborg to revamp architectural identity of Copenhagen's Naturpark Amager

A team led by Møller & Grønborg and ADEPT won first place in a competition to design the architectural identity of Copenhagen's largest park: Naturpark Amager. Covering an area of 35 km2, the park will have seven new visitor points that create visual links throughout the park and also make the protected Amager landscape more accessible to visitors.

ADEPT shared more details about their team's proposal below.

“Each of the seven visitor points are located in a transformation pivot — from urban condition to nature or from land to water. The transformation from one condition to the other frames the landscape and creates a new experience of nature by breaking down its enormous scale into smaller spaces and stories. The seven visitor points and their buildings are very different but share a story of transformation and natural contrasts. The individual design enhances unique landscape characters and activities,” the design team writes.

“Creating coherence and visual links throughout the park is both the challenge and the potential in the project. The new identity in the park strengthen the existing character by using a simple design vocabulary. The vocabulary is a versatile toolbox for building in the landscape, choice of materials etc. The points will not only create new experiences for the visitors, it will also stage the landscape and provide a versatile framework for future development in the park.”

“A simple architecture with visible wood constructions and large significant roof shapes covered in burned wood slates makes the seven visitor points stand out against the grand landscape as intimate places of gathering and sharing.”

“A layer of subtle ‘hints’ enhancing the experience of the landscape supports the visitor points. As a linking element throughout the park, the hints provides accessibility, communication and way finding. The hints are small nudges showing the way to primary activities, visitor points and further into the landscape.”

Project details

Name: Naturepark Amager
Year: 2019 - 2022
Team: Møller & Grønborg, ADEPT, SNC-Lavalin Atkins, BARK
Location: Copenhagen, DK
Size: 35 km2
Partnership: Copenhagen Municipality, Taarnby Municipality, Dragør Municipality, The Danish Nature Agency, By & Havn

Find more project drawings in the gallery below.