Grindsted School Vodskov

GOAL no. 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

Less classroom education and more dens, nooks and niches turned one of Denmark’s oldest school buildings into an inclusive, active and varied learning environment.

Many schools were built fifty or a hundred years ago, and their layout and interiors no longer match contemporary educational principles and learning approaches or accommodate the diversity of their students.

The school in Grindsted abandoned traditional classrooms in favour of an interior where pupils can switch between surfaces, niches, seating stairs and lofts as well as tables and chairs at different heights. This environment is conducive to all children, including children with special needs, who have had far fewer sick days since the renovation and expansion of the buildings.

The main buildings, dating from 1868 and 1910, have been remodelled. With the addition of the new-build, the school is now a complex of six wings with gable end walls visible from the street and two interior courtyards – like a village. The gable end walls and the village theme were inspired by local farmhouses built around a quadrangle.

The extension is categorized as low-energy building class 2020. Existing buildings have undergone energy improvements and had rooftop solar cells installed. The project uses natural, durable materials, such as brick and timber, and acoustic regulation, ventilation and added daylight apertures ensure a good indoor climate.

The new learning environments were developed with input from the users, including staff, management, parents’ representatives and, not least, the children, who virtually all called for variation and room for immersion in thought. These requests are met by the new, differentiated learning environment filled with dens, nooks and soft furniture which gives each student the opportunity to learn in the way that suits him or her best.

This project demonstrates how older school buildings can be transformed and supplemented with new spaces that appeal to a diverse student body, promote learning and well-being and make the school a more welcoming space.

Project details

Where: Uggerhalnevej 4, 9310

Vodskov

Completed: 2017

Client: Aalborg Municipality

Architects: Pluskontoret Arkitekter

Kulturbroen

Aalborg and Nørresundby

GOAL no. 3, 9, 10, 11

A new bridge attached to the side of an existing railway bridge makes it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Limfjord. The bridge helps connect the cities of Aalborg and Nørresundby and provides a new landscape experience.

For green transition to succeed, cycling or walking need to be easier options than driving. However, many rural areas lack safe and attractive infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.

The new Kulturbroen makes it simpler and more rewarding to cross the Limfjord on foot or bicycle. A 403-metre-long bridge for cyclists and pedestrians has been mounted onto the side of the existing hinged railway bridge that connects Aalborg West and Nørresundby. The bridge lets pedestrians and cyclists cross safely, sheltered from the railway traffic, and offers new nature experiences for locals and tourists alike.

The red cyclist and pedestrian bridge has a lightweight construction designed with due respect for the distinctive steel railway bridge from 1928. It only sporadically rests on the railway bridge and is otherwise attached with a system of struts and a vibration dampening wire construction. The bridge construction is made of a strong lightweight composite consisting of plastic and fibres, and the elements are easy to remove and reinstall when the railway bridge is painted and rustproofed.

Energy-efficient LED lights form a luminous line in the handrails, guiding pedestrians and cyclists in the dark and making the bridge a visible element in the landscape.

Paid for in part by local fundraising, the bridge is a much-needed alternative for pedestrians and cyclists to the busy Limfjords bridge, which lies closer to the city centre.

This project demonstrates that infrastructure can be approached with innovative solutions. A simple and flexible addition to an existing infrastructure element has significantly improved conditions for cyclists and pedestrians and enhanced the connection between city and harbour front.

Project details

Where: Across the Limfjord, from Nørresundby to Aalborg

Completed: 2017

Client: Aalborg Municipality’s Technical and Environmental Administration

Architects: C.F.

Architects