Skovtrappen
Radical conservation, a living archive, a controlled ruin
Design and project lead was architect Mo Michelsen Stocholm Krag. Emergency Architecture (including me) provided architectural support and a lot of manual labour.
March 2024
Photo: Mo Michelsen Stochholm Krag
Photo: Stefan Darlan Boris
Background
Just like many other Danish towns, the small station city of Bedsted Thy is suffering from an increase in rural to urban migration. Centralisation of services, a decline in work opportunities and a loss of tourism has pushed many residents to move closer to the bigger cities - leaving behind many empty buildings. Some of which become dangerous as they decline, and a mark of shame for the local residents.
Traditionally, the choice has been between expensive and continous renovation or state sponsored demolitions. Naturally this approach has led to an increase in empty plots in the middle of town, erasing local heritage and reducing overall quality of the space. Not to mention the issues of wastefulness and sustainability.
Just like many other Danish towns, the small station city of Bedsted Thy is suffering from an increase in rural to urban migration. Centralisation of services, a decline in work opportunities and a loss of tourism has pushed many residents to move closer to the bigger cities - leaving behind many empty buildings. Some of which become dangerous as they decline, and a mark of shame for the local residents.
Traditionally, the choice has been between expensive and continous renovation or state sponsored demolitions. Naturally this approach has led to an increase in empty plots in the middle of town, erasing local heritage and reducing overall quality of the space. Not to mention the issues of wastefulness and sustainability.
Local support and co-creation
The support and sense of ownership of the local city renewal organisation proved essential to the project. They assisted with tools, expertise, various machinery, and a lot of snacks for us construction workers. They also took over the project the moment we looked away, and added trees, bushes, a very well designed handrail and some benches. Skovtrappen was wholeheartedly adopted and added to by the local community, which is the biggest compliment we could receive.
More about the project can be found on the instagram of Aarhus Arkitektskole
The support and sense of ownership of the local city renewal organisation proved essential to the project. They assisted with tools, expertise, various machinery, and a lot of snacks for us construction workers. They also took over the project the moment we looked away, and added trees, bushes, a very well designed handrail and some benches. Skovtrappen was wholeheartedly adopted and added to by the local community, which is the biggest compliment we could receive.
More about the project can be found on the instagram of Aarhus Arkitektskole
“Skovtrappen”
[eng: “the Forest Steps”]
Type of project:
Circular economy, Radical reuse, Radical conservation, Transformation, Local participation, Historical research, Adaptive reuse
Year completed: 2024
Location:
Thylandsgade 22, Bedsted Thy, Denmark
With:
Aarhus School of Architecture, Emergency Architecture & Human Rights, Bedsted Byforskønnelse, Thisted Municipality, and the National Museum of Denmark
Series:
Living Archives
Circular economy, Radical reuse, Radical conservation, Transformation, Local participation, Historical research, Adaptive reuse
Year completed: 2024
Location:
Thylandsgade 22, Bedsted Thy, Denmark
With:
Aarhus School of Architecture, Emergency Architecture & Human Rights, Bedsted Byforskønnelse, Thisted Municipality, and the National Museum of Denmark
Series:
Living Archives