The Good Life At The Sea

designed by Preben Skaarup Landscape /

Location: Denmark / Type: Waterfronts / Built: 2011 /
Show on Google Maps / Published on November 12, 2012

Preben Skaarup Landscape: The project in Klitmøller is part of a larger plan for ‘The good life at the sea’ in north Jutland. The plan includes projects for Klitmøller, Nørre Vorupør and Krik, all smaller coast and fjord cities. The projects are located at a place in Denmark where you can feel the nature and climate has great power. This has been the premises for inhabiting this place, and the connection to the sea has given the small cities their livelihood in form of fishing. Now the fishing industry is much decreased and the cities are now in a new era with focus on tourism. One of the great new attractions is windsurfing, and the area is being called cold Hawaii, because of its excellent location for wind and waves.

Klitmøller is the first project to be completed. The city is simple and appealing with characteristic white clear cut houses out to the sea and modest fisher boats in different colors lying on the beach. In this project the focus has been on establishing good facilities along the coast and access to the beach and sea. In Klitmøller the surfers has a strong hold on the area, and in the warmer part of the year, the city is filled with surfers on windy days. In addition to new facilities for the surfers the locale fishers and the tourist has had a great influence on the plan, and the challenge has been to make space, access and facilities to all the users.

The projects consists of three elements, the tribune to the west, the ramp to the east and in between the two a promenade that connects the sea to the city. The tribune works as a large seating area that is connected to a ramp. On the tribune you can find your own little spot to sit and admire the surfers or take a rest after a hard ‘fight’ on the sea. The tribune functions not only as a seating area but also as a coastal protection and the stairs on the tribune keep the water away from the houses behind. In connection to the tribune the surf- and multi house called Hummerhuset is located; the house contains facilities for the surfers, bird watchers and functions as a logical meeting point. On top of the house there is a large terrace, and from here you can get at great view over the sea, the tribune and the promenade. When the windsurfing world cup visits the city both the tribune and Hummerhuset is a central part of the event.

On the ramp, to the east, you get a great connection to the beach both for pedestrians, disabled and cars with boats. On the edges of the ramp large wooden logs works as fencing and seating and gives a clear boundary to the ramp. In connecting to the ramp elements for skaters are built in, so that seating and edges can be transformed to a skater paradise. The promenade connects the two attraction point, and along the promenade benches, special maritime lightpoles and stairs to the beach are the main features. Halfway on the promenade a fishing boat is located; you can visit the boat and feel like a captain. In connection to the promenade there are small parking areas. The main material in the project is in situ casted concrete with characteristic dancing lines that works as a pattern but also as a natural breakpoint for the concrete. The material works well in the rough climate, because it can resist the wear and tear the climate gives to any material here. In 2012-2013 the projects in Nørre Vorupør and Krik will be constructed.

Landscape Architecture: Preben Skaarup Landscape
Project team: Preben Skaarup, Michael Hammelsvang Jørgensen, Mogens Dueholm, Jan Nielsen og Karen Marie Fisker Langkjer
Project name: ‘The good life at the sea’ – Klitmøller
Client: The municipality of Thisted in collaboration with Realdania
Location: Klitmøller, north Jutland, Denmark
Area: 5.700 m2
Design period: 2009-2010
Construction period: 2011
Completion time: 2011
Building design: Force4
Winning awards: 1. Prize in parallel competition

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