The Copenhagen firm Johansen Skovsted Arkitekter presents three new constructions and a renovation that together form new facilities in one of Europe’s most important stopping points for migratory birds. These light objects grow out of the idea of creating shelters that blend into the natural surroundings, helping visitors’ immersion in the flora and fauna of Denmark’s northern plains. A watch tower, a research center, a hide for one person, and a space for holding workshops are all materialized under the same premise, but with different construction solutions.
The tower, with its tubular structure of galvanized iron, combines the transparency of the Danish plains with the lightness of the persistent fog. Some flights of stairs, also lightweight, lead to a platform offering an elevated framing of the landscape. The triangular bird hide, in contrast, is set on the ground and executed with triangulated bent sheets, and steps are integrated into the structure. Here visitors can stop and wait in silence for birds to approach. Finally, a black-painted wooden prism with an aluminum interior is filled with light to accommodate training workshops, and a traditional construction has been renovated to serve as a research center.