Spaces of encounters by michala krebs

SPACES OF ENCOUNTERS - an investigation into the possibilities of working with landscape in the context of asylum centers in Denmark

SPACES Book 1 OF ENCOUNTERS forside Bog 1 Michala Kaja Krebs Nanna Maj Stubbe Ã&#x2DC;stergaard

Landscape Architecture Master Thesis University of Copenhagen September 2016

Book 1

SPACES OF ENCOUNTERS - an investigation into the possibilities of working with landscape in the context of asylum centers in Denmark Book 1 30 ECTS Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thesis Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Michala Kaja Krebs, slh494 Nanna Maj Stubbe Ă&#x2DC;stergaard, mps608 Supervisor: Anne Tietjen University of Copenhagen September 2016

The making of this thesis has been very interesting. Trying to make heads and tails of the vastly complicated Danish asylum system and bringing it into a landscape architectural perspective has been equally frustrating and gratifying. We’re glad we took the challenge! We would like to thank Anne for dedicated, enthusiastic and inspiring supervision – we have very much enjoyed working with you. Thank you to all our parents for the support and for reminding us to eat more ice cream. Especially thanks to Tinna and Jan for advice and proof reading – we greatly appreciate it! Last but not least, thank you to all our amazing co-students with whom we have shared our second home – the thesis room.

Michala Kaja Krebs

Nanna Maj Stubbe Østergaard

Resume

I denne afhandling har vi undersøgt mulighederne for at arbejde med landskabet i forbindelse med asylcentre i Danmark. Dette har vi gjort gennem hypotesen “spaces of encounters”, som er baseret på idéen om at møder mellem mennesker, kulturer og landskaber vil hjælpe med nedbryde den usynlige barriere mellem asylansøgere og det værtssamfund de lever i. Vi har defineret fem opmærksomhedspunkter - type, rumlig struktur, kontekst, tid og organisation - gennem en analyse af den nuværende situation i det danske asylsystem. Vi har udvalgt tre cases ud fra deres forskelligheder inden for de fem opmærksomhedspunkter. Dette er gjort for at undersøge, hvordan vores hypotese vil fungere under forskellige omstændigheder: Center Auderød, Center Jelling og Langeland Kommune. Vi har haft den samme tilgang til alle tre cases; ved at analysere og evaluere hvert site ved hjælp af opmærksomhedspunkterne har vi defineret potentialer og udviklingsmuligheder for hvert sted. Dette har betydet at selvom arbejdsprocessen har været metodisk den samme for hver case, er resultatet tre meget forskellige strategier og design. Metoden har tilladt os at nærme hvert sted på dets egne betingelser, og gjort det muligt for os at arbejde med, i stedet for imod, centrenes iboende temporalitet. Dette har gjort det muligt at designe steder, der forbedrer hverdagen for asylansøgerne og samtidig gavner lokalområdet. Ved at arbejde med rammerne for “spaces of encounters” og tage højde for de fem opmærksomhedspunkter, har vi udviklet en metode der tænker kvalitativt og langsigtet hvilket er et alternativ til den nuværende funktionelt orienterede tilgang til asylcentre. Således mener vi at der er potentialer for at skabe mangfoldige landskaber der nedbryder barrierer mellem mennesker og skaber langsigtet værdi.

Abstract

In this thesis we have investigated the possibilities for working with landscape in the context of asylum centers. We have done so through the idea of â&#x20AC;&#x153;spaces of encountersâ&#x20AC;?, our hypothesis that meetings between people, cultures and landscapes will help break down the invisible barrier between asylum seekers and their host communities. We have defined five points of attention - type, spatial structure, context, time and organization - through an analysis of the current situation of the asylum system in Denmark. We have chosen three cases based on their different characters within the points of attention, in order to investigate how our hypothesis would work under various circumstances: Center AuderĂ¸d, Center Jelling and the municipality of Langeland. We approached all cases in the same way, namely by evaluating each site through the points of attention. Thus the processes were methodically the same, but nonetheless led to three very different strategies and designs. We have found that our method allowed us to approach each site on its own terms, and enabled us to work with, rather than against, the inherent temporality of the centers. This makes it possible to design places that improve the everyday lives of asylum seekers while also benefitting the local area. By using the framework of spaces of encounters and considering the five points of attention we have developed a method that makes it possible, through thinking long-term and qualitative, to create multifaceted landscapes that break down barriers between people and create long-term value.

Reading guide

This project is a design-based investigation of the landscapes of asylum centers in Denmark. It consists of two books:

Book 1 [1] Introduction to our hypothesis of Spaces of encounters based on a presentation and analysis of the spaces and landscapes of asylum centers in Denmark [2] Case outcomes; brief descriptions of the main points of the three case proposals [3] Summary, discussion and conclusion

Book 2 The second book contains analysis and design proposals for the three cases, and should be read before or alongside the case outcomes in Book 1. In Appendix 1 you can find a glossary where important terms, agencies and legislations are explained. Words marked with a * can be found in the glossary.

Background and motivation

This project is motivated by the difficulties arising from the increasing number of people seeking asylum in Denmark. Confronted with problems on all levels of society – political, economic, cultural and personal – we have to ask ourselves how best to receive, accommodate and integrate people who have left their homes behind. There are no easy answers. But we don’t want to give up on the basic idea that everybody who flees from war, violence or human right infringements deserves shelter and solidarity. We feel a moral obligation. We believe that Denmark can do better, and that it is our social responsibility to do so. We believe that landscape architecture can contribute positively to the way we – that is the Danish Government, local communities and the Danish population in general - think and act in relation to accommodation and integration of refugees. Likewise, refugees living in asylum centers may benefit from a better introduction to Danish culture and social norms. By gaining a deeper understanding of Danish culture, refugees might be better prepared to navigate in Danish society, thus minimizing the types of conflicts we’ve seen in recent years. We wish to bridge the gap between refugees living in the asylum centers and the local residents living in the vicinity of the centers by creating spaces that provide and encourage encounters between individuals, communities, nature and culture. We believe that it is possible to turn the refugee crisis in a positive direction by investing in long term solutions and by finding new ways of understanding the Danish asylum centers in their context: From isolated islands to spaces of encounters.

Contents

Prologue ResumĂŠ Abstract Reading guide Background and motivation

Introduction

[1] 12 15 16

The hypothesis

[2] 20 23 25 27

Spaces of encounters Landscape encounters Cultural encounters Personal encounters

The current situation

[3] 30 32 34 36 40 41 42 44 46 50 56 58

Introduction Aim and questions Methodology

The global situation The local situation The way through the Danish asylum system Types of centers Daily life at an accommodation center Existing modes of encounters Reference project: The self-sufficient asylum center Reference project: Center Hanstholm Operation of asylum centers Spatial organization Points of attention Introduction to cases

Case outcomes

[4] 62 68 76

AuderĂ¸d: Common Ground Jelling: Culturescapes Langeland: Natural Encounters

Summary, discussion & key findings

[5] 84 91 92

Summery & discussion Conclusion Epilogue

References

102 Appendix 1: Glossary

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Denmark was the first country to sign the UN Convention* relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention that sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum, and sets out the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. For many years Denmark handled its responsibility with pride and generosity, but the current situation has changed things. An overwhelming number of refugees*, primarily from conflicted areas in the Middle East, and migrants* are crossing the borders of the European Union, seeking temporary safety from war and political persecution or hoping to start a new life and get a share of European welfare. Not since World War II have so many people been displaced – a long-standing obligation has become a challenge that has developed into a crisis, and the European Union as well as the individual countries are struggling to find solutions to the situation (UNHCR, 2016). Denmark - and the host communities - are ill prepared for the sudden arrival of so many people, and the willingness to provide long-term help is challenged by the concern about the impact of mass immigration. Danish politicians have restricted access to Denmark over and over again, and the Danish prime minister has even proposed a revision of the 1951 Refugee Convention in order to reduce Western obligations to refugees (Kingsley, 2016). The Danish population is caught between a wish to help and a feeling of uncertainty towards, maybe even a fear of strangers and the unknown consequences of immigration. Since few local residents in host communities have any kind of contact with the refugees living in the centers, opinions are more often formed by the media than by actual knowledge and personal relations. As a result the debate is polarized and very much based on emotions. A limited or distorted understanding – by Danes and refugees alike – of central values in each other’s cultures creates barriers to acceptance and integration. Denmark is struggling to find appropriate locations and structures for the asylum centers. Due to the high demand, asylum centers are spread across the country in either temporary pavilions, tents, reconditioned buildings or a combination thereof – often located in some distance from existing local communities and social structures.

The architecture of the centers is purely focused on functionality, and efforts to meet the urgent demand for accommodation have led to a wish for a one-fitsall model. As a consequence there is left no possibilities for encounters with the Danish landscape, culture or community. This means that most centers lack identity and connection to their context and surroundings, which furthers the segregation of the refugees. Furthermore, the number of asylum seekers* coming to Denmark is unpredictable and varies significantly depending on the international situation. Asylums centers therefore open and close – often rapidly – in response to the immediate situation. This dynamic has added to a lacking sense of place at each center, and as the Danish population is – more and more - seeing the refugees as a threat to society, the centers are becoming increasingly isolated from local communities. The refugee crisis is by no means over and the number of people seeking asylum in Denmark will probably stay high for years to come. The situation calls for more robust and long-term solutions that can turn the crisis in a positive direction, beneficial for the asylum seekers as well as for the Danish society. We should not be satisfied by securing accommodation only; we should insist on creating places to live, and finding new ways for asylum seekers and local residents to engage in each other’s’ life – not just coexist at a distance from one another. Asylum seekers are living in a limbo. They have left their homes behind and are temporarily placed in a center waiting for their case to be processed, and their fate to be decided upon – waiting to find out whether or not they will be granted residence in Denmark. This can take several years. Research conducted on the health implications of accommodating asylum seekers in segregated asylum centers and camp-like structures concludes that there are health implications, including “loss of liberty, uncertainty regarding return to country of origin, social isolation, riots, forceful removal, hunger strikes and self-harm” (Robtjant et.al 2009). There is however very little research on the influence of architecture and landscape on the asylum seekers’ condition.

We believe that by creating spaces of encounters we can increase the quality of life among asylum seekers, and create meeting places for asylum seekers and local Danish residents – and thereby encourage personal meetings as well as social and cultural integration. This will promote places with clear structures, identities and aesthetic values which will create a better sense of place and belonging – and thereby improves the stressful situation of the asylum seekers as well as furthering mutual respect and understanding between Danes and refugees. We acknowledge, however, that the inherent temporality of asylum centers is a challenge, and that urgent needs may call for pavilions that can easily be opened and closed. Attention may therefore rather be given to the landscape. If the buildings fail to provide any aesthetic consideration and connection to the surroundings, the landscape can be beautiful and characteristic - and it can add qualities to the local community as a permanent fixture whether the center is open or not. Although the number of asylum seekers and consequently also of asylum centers varies a great deal, the number will probably remain high for many years to come. The centers must therefore be taken into account – and seen as a resource – in the planning and design of future landscapes and cities.

Aim and questions

We aim to investigate how the creation of spaces of encounters can facilitate the integration of asylum centers into Danish communities. Through strategic planning and design of landscapes and public spaces we want to explore the potential of a new approach to the planning and designing of asylum centers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to improve the sense of place, identity and belonging for the asylum seekers living in the centers, and at the same time turn the centers into new and lasting places, that add permanent values to neighbours and local communities. Through concrete design proposals for three selected cases we wish to define points of attention for future planning, design and transformation of asylum centers. The main questions in this project is: How can landscape be a mediator between asylum seekers and local communities in Denmark through the creation of encounters between people, places and cultures? How can the inherent temporality of the asylum centers be dealt with? What will the centers leave behind when they are closed down? How can landscape relieve and improve the stressful situation of the asylum seeker? How can asylum centers provide landscapes of lasting value to the host community? How can asylum centers be factored into planning and design of cities and landscapes?

Methodology

Through three design-based case studies we aim to investigate the potential of strategic landscape design as a method to integrate asylum centers in physical and social structures. This project is as much a search for the right questions as it is a search for answers and solutions. The project suggests that a sense of belonging and cohesion can be established by working with a flexible and site-specific method. We believe that the asylum centers need to be closely connected to the landscape and cultural context in which it is located, in order to create the best possible situation for both asylum seekers and local communities. However we also recognize the need for an overall common approach due to the timeframe these centers work within. Therefore, we wish to deduce general points of attention that should be considered when approaching a new site, and discuss the potentials for future planning and design of asylum centers. The three cases have been selected for their differences and thereby for their ability to illustrate common variations – physically, contextually and organizational - in Danish asylum centers. [1] Center Auderød is a large reception center located in Northern Zealand. The center is isolated and poorly connected to local communities and the case will focus on the landscape within the boundaries of the center and strategies to improve interaction between the center and its neighboring communities. [2] Center Jelling is placed in the small town of Jelling in Jutland. This case will focus on how to integrate the center into the fabric of the town and its immediate surroundings. By tapping into local resources and potentials we investigate how the asylum center can be a catalyst for urban development and cultural communication. [3] The municipality of Langeland, where the accommodation of asylum seekers has been turned into what they themselves call an “asylum industry”. This case will focus on the large scale landscape and the possibilities embedded in the network of centers placed in the landscape. We want to investigate how the asylum industry can be included as a resource in the municipal planning of landscape development.

By working with these cases we aim to get an in-depth understanding of the potentials and challenges of the centers themselves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and create a position from where we can zoom out and discuss the potentials in a larger perspective where it is possible to include the centers in long-term planning and design. On the basis of our preliminary investigations we have formed a hypothesis and defined five points of attention, which are used as tools for the investigation of our three cases in order to create comparable data. Strategic design proposals are then developed on the basis of the analysis.

THE HYPOTHESIS In this chapter our hypothesis of “Spaces of encounters” is presented and explained

Spaces of encounters

Walking into a Danish asylum center was very different from what we had imagined. Mostly in a positive way. The first center we visited was a childrens’ center on Langeland and we had honestly been a little worried about it. Unaccompanied minors on the run from things we can’t even imagine. Alone. How do you prepare to face that? We were not exactly eager to go in. As it turned out, we had nothing to worry about as mostly curious and smiling faces met us. It actually almost had the feel of a boarding school, except for the big “but” of course. Talking to the activity coordinator we were told his personal way into working at the asylum center. He was a neighbor of one of the centers on Langeland, and was none too pleased about a new housing pavilion being erected. He went to give them a piece of his mind. And was met with the exact same sight as we were; children - not menacing young criminals. On his way from the entrance to the reception he changed his mind about complaining and applied for a job instead. The next center we visited was an accommodation center for families, also on Langeland, and we had the same experience of being met with smiles and hellos. On our tour around the center several families invited us into their rooms and offered us tea, coffee and food. They were very hospitable, curious and eager to tell their stories. The manager of the center told us how local people often come to the center but when approached pretend to be German tourists who have lost their way and then leave. They are curious but cannot find a way to approach the centers and the asylum seekers. This is a very common problem and it leads to people forming opinions based on hearsay and the stories the media choose to publish - which are very often of the negative sort. A common denominator for all the people we talked to in the asylum centers, was the wish that people would confront some of their prejudices and visit the centers and talk to the asylum seekers living there: that people would base their opinion on personal experience. This would also give the asylum seekers the chance to tell their life-stories, practice language skills and gain valuable insights into Danish culture. Our experiences and analysis shaped our own perception of what is at stake in the Danish asylum system and how the current situation, in some ways, is counterproductive to successful integration and co- existence. In our opinion a very basic but important problem is the isolation of the centers, both physically and socially.

There is simply no attention given to facilitate natural encounters between locals/asylum seekers, Danish culture/global culture and asylum seekers/ Danish landscape. Due to this isolation, the centers become a kind of “Other Spaces”, heterotopias of crisis and deviation, reflecting the limbo in which the asylum seekers find themselves (Foucault, 1984). There is no sense of place on which to start building a feeling of belonging. Re-creating a sense of place and belonging is particularly important to refugees, who have experienced separation from their home, culture and society. We therefore wish to investigate how we can integrate asylum centers into Danish communities by promoting encounters between people, cultures and landscape through strategic landscape design within the existing framework of the Danish asylum centers. Types of encounters In this project we work with three types of encounters: landscape, cultural and personal. The terms are of course interrelated and not so clearly separated as all that. However, for clarity’s sake we will describe them as three parts of a larger whole when investigating the design of “spaces of encounters”.

Landscape Encounters As a general rule, asylum centers in Denmark are not actively promoting - or encouraging asylum seekers to use and experience - the landscape around them. A large part of a country’s identity lies in its landscape, its nature. We all know the feeling of comforting familiarity when seeing or being in a landscape that we understand and feel connected to. It is through the direct experience and exploring of new landscapes that we get to form our own understanding and relation to a new place. A large part of our sense of place lies in our ability to comprehend the landscape surrounding us, and the cultural identity it reflects. “The connections, therefore, between landscape and identity and hence memory, thought, and comprehension are fundamental to understanding of landscape and human sense of place.” - Taylor, K. (2008) “Landscape and identity are inherent components of our culture, one informing the other … access to, and freedom to enjoy the landscape as well as respect for spiritual and symbolic meanings people ascribe to their landscape, are some of the components that will support dignity and wellbeing of communities.” -Makhzoumi, J. Egoz, S. Pungetti, G. Eds. (2011) Places shape our memories, feelings and thoughts and in turn, people shape the landscape around them through their experiences and actions. In this way, landscape is also tied to culture, history and social identity (Council of Europe, 2000). We believe that experiencing and getting acquainted with the Danish landscape will help refugees form a relation to the country. Being in or working with nature might possibly help the understanding of both Danish nature and culture and thus promote a better sense of place and belonging. Furthermore, most asylum seekers will most likely benefit from being in nature. It is well documented that being in nature has good effects on especially mental health and can help relieve post-traumatic stress and other illnesses derived from a very uncertain situation (Poulsen et. al, 2016). This being so, enabling asylum seekers to encounter the Danish landscape will have positive effects on a personal level as well as integration as a whole.

Cultural Encounters Cross-cultural encounters have taken place throughout history in all parts of the world. They involve contacts and interactions of various types, between people from different backgrounds. Such encounters require mutual adjustment and learning. They bring with them movement and change. Cultural encounters challenge ideas about cultural homogeneity and the unchanging nature of traditions. They are also indicators of change and innovation (Davidann and Gilbert, 2013). With the stream of refugees arriving in Denmark comes a great variety of different cultures, cultures expressed in ways of dressing, eating, social norms and ways of understanding the world. When talking about the refugee crisis, Danes often end up expressing their fear that the volume of foreign cultures will quash indigenous Danish culture. Most of this fear is based on not really knowing the cultural newcomers, paired with a media reporting angle mainly focused on the conflicting and incompatible elements. This being said, there have been several conflicts and incidents where refugees have failed to adhere to western cultural norms. The large-scale violation of women in Cologne on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve 2015 sparked international outcry and an increased aversion and scepticism towards refugees in Europe (Eddy, 2016) while examples in Denmark such as young boys assaulting women at festivals (Graversen and Gottschalck, 2016) have let to suggestions of curfews and harsher consequences for asylum seekers (JĂ¸rgensen 2016). Events like this, highlights the necessity not only for Danes to get acquainted with the foreign cultures, but certainly also the importance of creating a platform for refugees to learn the values and norms of their host country. Asylum centers are the first places of cultural encounters when asylum seekers come to Denmark. This is where they are first faced with Danes and Danish culture and vice versa. We believe that this offers a chance to create places that allows both groups to meet and adjust to each other - they might even learn from each other and enrich their own cultural standpoint.

Personal Encounters Most of all; people need to be able to put a face on this new group of residents. They need to hear the personal stories and experience the fact that they are also just people. Research conducted by the Independent Asylum Commission showed that the single most important factor which determines how a member of the public responds to people seeking sanctuary is a personal encounter (The Independent Asylum Commission, 2008). Getting to know each other as persons will hopefully demystify the rather impersonal term â&#x20AC;&#x153;asylum seekerâ&#x20AC;?. For asylum seekers it can be an invaluable opportunity to form social bonds and practice their language skills which is so essential to future integration and access to jobs. It is also a chance to get acquainted with the more intricate peculiarities of socializing in a Danish context. Personal encounters can promote intercultural understanding, mutual respect and social responsibility and is as such closely linked to cultural encounters. In this way, individual meetings can be personally beneficial for asylum seekers as well as locals but it may also be seen as a first step in the integration process and strengthen asylum seekers connection to Danish society, making it easier for them to successfully settle in Denmark. Furthermore, research has shown that there is a strong link between how well integrated a refugee is and how likely they are to go back home to help re-build the country they came from. Successful integration is as such beneficial whether people granted asylum wishes to stay or to go back home. (Bendixen, 2011) Individual encounters can be more or less planned. It may be the chance encounter of sitting next to each other on a bench and striking up a conversation, using the same sports facilities or actively participating in social events or projects. We believe that formal or informal, personal encounters may well be facilitated through landscape that stimulates personal contact.

THE CURRENT SITUATION This chapter presents an introduction and analysis of the current situation of the asylum system in Denmark.

The global situation

Today more than 65,3 million people are displaced worldwide - the highest number since World War II. People are fleeing war, disasters, conflicts or religious persecution. The past years conflicts in the Middle East and Africa have significantly contributed to the rise in global numbers of displaced people and in 2015 there was close to 5 million syrian refugees worldwide. (UNHCR, report global trends). During the second half of 2015 Europe witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of refugees and migrants arriving by sea and land. Hundreds of thousands embarked on dangerous journeys crossing the mediterranean sea to reach Europe to search for safety. Around 1,2 million refugees came to Europe in 2015 through various routes across Africa, Asia and the Middle East by bus, train, boat and on foot. Twice as many as the year before.

The local situation

In 2015 a record high number of more than 21.225 refugees came to Denmark. This is the highest number ever recorded. Only 10,573 had their cases accepted into the Danish asylum system, while the rest was sent back to other EU countries on account of the Dublin Regulation(see appx. 1). The number of refugees seeking asylum in Denmark fluctuates significantly from year to year and month to month as it reflects the ebb and flow of conflicts around the world. The number can be hard to predict because it is influenced by so many various factors and political climates. The original Danish Alien Act of 1983 has been significantly altered since its conception. Especially the asylum policy bill passed by the parliament in January of 2016 radically tightened the Danish policies on refugees, introducing among others the infamous jewellery law and a three-year waiting period to apply for family reunification. Other elements of the bill include: tougher requirements to obtain permanent residency (leaving a great part of refugees without a chance of ever getting it); a reduction from five to two years stay for refugees; abolition of the access to housing outside the camps for families with children; and tightening the rules for withdrawal of a residence permit (Lov om ændring af udlændingeloven, 2016). The bill is directly aimed at discouraging refugees heading for Denmark and was advertised in Lebanese newspapers. The bill has been widely criticised internationally and even the Danish state’s own Institute of Human Rights says this is a direct breach of article 8 of the European convention on human rights. This renders Denmark as one of the European nations with the toughest Alien Act and has sent Denmark on collision course with human rights and the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Number of people seeking asylum in Denmark from 1980-2016

The way through the Danish asylum system

Types of centers

There are three different main types of asylum centers corresponding to the three different phases of the asylum process - reception, accommodation and departure. Currently (August 2016) there is 84 centers in Denmark including 6 reception and/or departure centers, 16 children accommodation centers and 2 special care centers. Reception center Newly arrived refugees are placed in one of 3 reception centers in Denmark. The asylum seekers will be registered, informed and prepared for the further course in the asylum process and accommodation system. Accommodation center While the Danish Immigration Service (DIS) processes their applications, asylum seekers are living in one of the accommodation centers throughout Denmark. DIS distributes the asylum seekers. The facilities and sizes differs from center to center. There are 3 different types of accommodation centers; Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s center: Unaccompanied minors between 0 and 17 years of age Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s center: Single women or single women with young children Special care center: Asylum seekers with serious physical or mental illness can live in center Kongelunden (the only special care center in Denmark). There is a limited number of places in these centers, so DIS decides who can stay there. Departure center Rejected asylum seekers are placed in departure centers before they return to their home country, if they do not leave voluntarily. There is two departure centers both operated by the Danish Prison and Probation Service.

Asylum seekers at the temporary tent camp in NĂŚstved

Children playing at Center Grenaa

Daily life at an accommodation center

Most asylum seekers are single and shares a room with 3-5 other of the same sex but some centers offers a few single or double-rooms. Some rooms have their own toilet and bath facilities, and some facilities are shared. Kitchens are shared and are located in hallways or adjacent buildings. To ensure equal living conditions in different centers, standards for the facilities have been defined, including e.g. that every family has to have two rooms if at all possible, the minimum of 5m2 dwelling space per person and a maximum of 10 persons per bathroom (European Commission, 2001). The asylum seekers are responsible for their own shopping, cooking, cleaning and general daily chores. Some centers have a canteen which means that asylum seekers receive a smaller amount of allowances and eats in the canteen three times a day instead of cooking for themselves. The basic allowance is DKK 49.32 per day per adult. If the asylum seeker lives in an asylum center with a spouse or cohabiting partner, they will receive DKK 39.05 per day per adult. In comparison the supplementary allowance received while staying at a reception center is DKK 8.23 per day. Parents also receive DKK 78.09 per child per day. (New to Denmark) While staying at an accommodation center, asylum seekers are required to take part in various mandatory programs in order to receive their weekly allowances. Young people between the ages of 17 to 21 attend school twenty hours a week where they are taught Danish, English, IT-skills etc. Children go to school or kindergarten daily. Adults over 21 attend school ten hours a week and are also required to follow an internship ten hours a week. These internships vary a lot in content, from daily maintenance of buildings and grounds to cooking to acting as interpreter. Some internships are held externally on local farms, restaurants etc. Even though the spatial conditions vary, most centers are crowded and asylum seekers have very little privacy. None of the centers are built for the purpose which makes for inadequate conditions for long term stays. Most centers offers access to a gym, sport facilities, workshops and social activities. However, the use of these facilities are often dependent on the presence of employees. At the same time the Danish asylum system bars asylum seekers from working outside of the center within the first six months of arriving and makes it difficult and quite unattractive even after that (Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing, 2016). As a consequence of these conditions, time is what asylum seekers have most of.

Existing modes of encounters

The amount of free time and the limited options for leaving the centers makes for a very frustrating and stressful situation for the asylum seekers. Long stays in accommodation centers with nothing to do has a damaging effect on asylum seekers, and research shows that there is a strong negative correlation between the amount of time spent in this inactive waiting position and the likelihood of gaining employment once out of the center. Furthermore, internships have often been criticized for their lack of purpose and meaning and their disempowerment of the asylum seekers (Johansen, 2015). On this ground several different projects are working with providing meaningful activities and internships for asylum seekers around the country. The projects are often based on collaborations between asylum center and volunteers from the local community and introduces a more active and apparently meaningful approach to modes of encounters. Several centers have taken initiatives toward new modes of encounters between asylum seekers and host community. These projects show that there is a lot of potential in letting the internships have a clear purpose. They also show that if the work is meaningful asylum seekers are willing to participate voluntarily besides the mandatory hours. There might also be potentials in including the schools and educational programs since active learning and social interaction with locals have proven to be very efficient in improving language skills. Therefore, the incorporation of possible internships in future design projects on asylum centers might prove to have physical as well as social benefits. Two reference projects will be examined on the following pages.

Reference project:

The self-sufficient asylum center “The self-sufficient asylum center” is a catalytic project developed by the think tank CHORA Connection in collaboration with the Danish Red Cross in the spring of 2016. It is a working title for the development of a new prototype of a sustainable asylum center. The focus is on the establishment of sustainable farming on the centers which will be a means to engage the users of the asylum centers and create community while also providing the center with locally produced foods. So far the project has been focused on pilot projects at centers in Jelling and Auderød, and has during the spring and summer of 2016 started establishing fields and gardens. In Auderød the farming is placed at the center while in Jelling, a field outside of town has been donated by a local farmer. During the summer both projects has experienced considerable interest from asylum seekers who are eager to participate. The farming is still relatively small scale, so self-sufficiency is still a long way off but participants has expressed that they are very happy to take part. We were a part of the start-up phase ourselves, participating in workshops and doing initial analysis and sketching on both sites. It has been very interesting for us to follow this project because we got to meet the people involved and experience the drive and believe they have in doing something more than what is already being done.

“The earth, and to see plants grow , can create a universal connections between us. More centers are on their way, and the goal is to develop a national and international model that contributes to sustainable development in Denmark and the world.” - Karen Blincoe, Director and Chairman of board CHORA Connection

Planting in Auderød

Planting day in Auderød with help from ØsterGro

Working on the garden in Jelling

Reference project:

Center Hanstholm In Hanstholm a project revolving around nature conservation and selfsufficient gardening is successfully running on its third year. Here a local organization, NaturplejenetvĂŚrk for Nordvestjylland, has created internships involving different types of nature management, which is hugely popular among the asylum seekers. The project has seen a record high attendance, significant improvements in language skill and self esteem in the participants. The project is supported by the Danish Immigration Service and the aim is to improve peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opportunities and well-being through educational and practical activities. Asylum seekers receives courses in maintenance and safety aspects of using chainsaws. They help with clearance of trees and bushes in valuable nature areas and the maintenance, harvest and weekly sale of vegetables from their gardens. Participants have frequently expressed how activities outside the center and insight into Danish culture benefits them - and also how much better they sleep at night after a full day of activities. The project has been continually developed and new activities have been added each year. The 1,8ha garden was established in 2014, greenhouses and raised gardens were added in 2015. In 2016 small scale aquaponic systems were established. Nature management, however, remains the main focus of the project. In October 2015 an information meeting was held with participation from seven other asylum centers, operated by both municipalities and the Red Cross, who has since started their own garden projects.

Source: Hamish Stewart, project manager

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The project has given the participants new learning and practical experience which they will be able to use, regardless of whether they achieve residency in Denmark or will be sent home. But above all it has given the participants a much improved quality of life, while awaiting a decision in their case.â&#x20AC;? - Lars Enevold Andersen Leader of Center Hanstholm

Operation of asylum centers

In Denmark the Danish Immigration Service (DIS) is responsible for providing accommodation for asylum seekers and does so in cooperation with several partners and operators. Today centers are either operated by the Danish Red Cross or by a municipality. Red cross has been operating asylum centers since august 1984 when the first center opened in Holte. Prior to the opening of the center refugees had been accommodated in hotels but the increasing number of refugees seeking asylum in the mid 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s required new solutions for accommodation. Since 1984 the Danish Red Cross have opened and closed more than 350 asylum centers in Denmark. In 2001 the first asylum center operated by a municipality opened in Hanstholm (now part of Thisted municipality) in northern Jutland. In 2003 former Brovst municipality (today Jammerbugt) and Vesthimmerlands municipality was inspired to do the same and took over operations of the asylum centers in the municipality. The basic idea behind the decision was that the municipality would be able to better integrate the asylum center into local community. Today centers are either operated by The Danish Red Cross or by one of the five municipalities; Langeland, Jammerbugt, Vesthimmerland, Thisted or Bornholm. The municipalities can act as an external-operator for other municipalities. In some cases centers are run in collaboration with the Danish Prison and Probation Service or the Danish Emergency Management Agency. While all operators have to live up to the same basic requirements stated by the Danish Immigration Service, there are differences in how they operate the centers. The Red Cross is very experienced in operating asylum centers and has a fully developed system for how they run things. They bring in their own employees, children and adults goes to asylum schools run by the Red Cross etc. It is a functional machine that can run anywhere, which means that while the centres might run smoothly they are very detached from the local community.

Municipalities, on the other hand, use public schools so far as possible, they hire local employees and hire local companies to help with refurbishment etc. However, it can be a bit more complicated for municipalities to work within the fast changing asylum system, especially when functioning as an external operator in other host municipalities. Municipalities can take a vote on whether they wish to host an asylum center, but according to new legislation, the Danish Minister for Immigration, Integration and Housing can effectively overrule the decision of the municipality if deemed necessary. Thus, the attitude towards centers varies a lot locally which might challenge collaborations between host municipality and operating municipality. In spite of some of these challenges, municipal operators have a better chance to incorporate the planning of asylum centers into the more general municipal planning, even though this is still not common practise.

Spatial organization

The number of asylum centers in Denmark varies a lot according to need. Per may 2016 there is 84 centers. The centers are evenly distributed across the country and are mostly located in small towns or in isolated building complexes in the countryside. As said, it can be difficult to predict the number of refugees arriving in Denmark and therefore the number of asylum centers needed. This results in a precarious situation where centers open and close from week to week or day to day. This requires the operators to be very flexible and adaptive in order to adjust to fast changing demands. In periods where large amounts of refugees seek asylum in Denmark an operator might have to open up a new center within days or change from one type of center to another. In contrast, if the number of asylum seekers is declining centers might close down or merge with other centers, requiring relocation of current residents. The physical planning of asylum centers in Denmark are generally very focused on the here and now situation and not much attention is payed to long-term strategies. This makes for functional and practical places without much addedvalue for neither asylum seekers nor neighbors. In some instances it also results in temporary solutions being a lot more permanent than first expected, for instance the center in Jelling which has been housing asylum seekers in â&#x20AC;&#x153;temporaryâ&#x20AC;? pavilions since 1993. For a large part the centers are located in existing unused buildings such as closed down schools, nursing homes, city halls or military barracks. The buildings are usually owned by either the municipality or the state (Freja Ejendomme) and costs for refurbishment are covered by DIS. If no such buildings are available or if the building mass is inadequate temporary pavilions are used. In a few cases tent camps are erected. No centers have been build for the purpose. The context of the centers changes from place to place. Some centers are placed far from the nearest communities, surrounded by nature and exists as small islands in the landscape. These centers are often quite large and might reside in old military barracks or hospitals. Others are placed within towns, often in central buildings such as former schools or city halls, and exist as a small town within the town. This of course presents them with very different opportunities and potentials for integration into and interaction with local communities.

The architecture of asylum centers in Denmark varies a great deal - a common denominator is the fact that they were not built for the purpose and that their landscapes offer very little stimulation.

Points of attention

We have defined five points of attention that need to be considered if we wish to work with landscape based development strategies for asylum centers. These will help us evaluate and understand the specific situation of each center.

Type The type of the center will have a big influence on the approach to the project. The short time of stay at a reception center will create a very different setting compared to the longer stays at accommodation centers. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a center for families, children, single men or people in need of special care should also be taken into consideration.

Spatial structure The architecture of the centers vary a lot throughout the country and the only common denominator is the fact that, unless they are temporary pavilions, they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t built for the purpose. This means the spatiality and character of the buildings were meant to accommodate other needs and this will obviously influence the spatiality of the site. The possibilities for future uses of both landscape and buildings, or lack thereof, will influence the design strategies.

Context You will have to consider the surroundings of the center, the boundary between the center and its neighbors and who the neighbors are. It will be important to know what characterizes the identity of the town or local area, what it is based on and how the center could fit it into and contribute to that.

Time The aspect of time is defining to these places on three different levels: the duration of the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence, the temporality of the construction and the constant flow of people arriving and leaving. If any aspiration of physically integrating the centers in local communities is to have any real meaning you have to implement long-term strategies considering what happens to the place if and when the centers close.

Organisation The operation of the center and the potential stakeholders should be considered. It makes a difference whether the center is operated by a municipality or the Red Cross since both actors have their challenges and advantages. It will also be important to identify potential stakeholders in order to secure financing and a broad anchoring of the project.

Introduction to cases

We have chosen to work with three cases in order to get a more nuanced understanding of the problems and possibilities concerning asylum centers in Denmark. The cases are chosen based on the five points of and the centersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; combined ability to illustrate the variations found within the Danish asylum system. Each case represents a common situation relating to type, spatial structure, context, time and organization.

The town apart - Center AuderĂ¸d The first case is Center AuderĂ¸d, a large reception center located in northern Zealand. The center is isolated and is very poorly connected to local communities. This case will focus on how to work with landscape within the boundaries of the center in order to improve the quality of life there but also to invite people into the center and thereby improve the interaction between center and neighboring communities.

The town within the town - Center Jelling The second case is Center Jelling, placed in the town of Jelling. The focus of this case will be on the integration of the center into the fabric of the town and its immediate surroundings. By tapping into local resources and potentials this case investigates how the asylum center can be a catalyst for urban development and cultural communication.

The network of towns - Langeland The third case is the municipality of Langeland where the accommodation of asylum seekers has been turned into an industry. In this case we will focus on the large scale landscape and the possibilities presented when you work with a network of four centers placed within this. We wish to investigate how the asylum industry can be included as a resource in the municipal planning of landscape development.

CASE OUTCOMES In this chapter brief presentations of the outcomes of our work with the three cases will be given. Analysis and design proposals are presented in Book 2.

AuderĂ¸d

Common Ground Center AuderĂ¸d is an example of a center both physically and socially isolated from the host community. The center exists as a town apart from other towns in the area, and interaction between asylum seekers and locals are very limited. The center is situated in a beautiful landscape and has plenty of space at its disposal, yet none of this is used or appreciated in the everyday life at the center. How can you create a clear identity and invite in the local community at a center situated in a remote location? We have in this case worked with the introduction of a new function and user group at the center - a folk high school - in order to create balance between the constant flux of asylum seekers and a steady long-term development.

Main intervention - addding new user group

Interventions Our main intervention is the establishment of Auderød Folk High school, while the asylum center is still present on the site. Based on existing plans for future establishment of a school on the premises, we suggest acting now and begin the process of development straightaway instead of waiting for the asylum center to close. The school will focus on food and culture - from farm to fork through the lens of different cultures. Students and educational facilities will be housed in unused buildings on the site, while existing kitchens and café will be shared, thus making the school an integrated part of the everyday life of asylum seekers living at the center. The landscape will create a framework for learning and cultivation of food. The inner landscape close to the buildings will be characterized by six clearly defined learning gardens. These will function as outdoor classrooms as well as recreational spaces varying in types of vegetation and expression. The landscape in between the gardens will be open and flexible in use and flow into the less programmed fields and commons around the old farmhouse of Glædeslundgård.

Encounters through cultivation and shared kitchens - From farm to fork

Encounters Students and asylum seekers will meet and interact through the cultivation and use of the gardens, landscape and classrooms as well as through shared use of kitchens and café. The process “from farm to fork” will give students and asylum seekers a shared purpose that will give them the chance to learn together and from each other, exchange knowledge and ideas and have casual meetings. By integrating the school into the physical layout of the center, asylum seekers may establish social contact even if they lack the personal resources to join internships or arranged activities. A folk high school is an inherently Danish institution , and is a strong example of Danish culture. The core principles of the folk high school will influence the asylum center and allow asylum seekers to get an idea of Danish cultural values. Students at the school will be from all over the country and as such will be able to share knowledge of, and experiences from, a variety of places in Denmark. New pathways will make the area easily accessible and a natural part of the visit to Arrenæs. This ensures that locals and visitors to the area can easily reach and experience the gardens. Here they will have the opportunity to meet both students and asylum seekers and take part in arranged activities and events. They can also purchase greens in the farm shop in Glædeslundsgård on their way.

Interventions placed inside the boundaries of the center

Placement and scale The core of the interventions proposed in this project are located inside the boundaries of the center. Activating the inner landscape around the existing built structure will create an attraction within the center itself. The six gardens represent the heart of the site and is a condensed and programmed landscape as opposed to the larger commons on the site which will be less controlled and maintained. This is a landscape that invites people in, in order to connect to its host community. The interventions to the landscape are primarily focused on the six gardens, and their placement in between the built structures is defining for their size. However, while the scale of the landscape interventions is quite condensed, the reach of the project will be quite large. Through the establishment of the folk high school the project will reach further than the local communities of FrederiksvĂŚrk and HalsnĂŚs, by inviting young people from all over the country to be a part of a uniquely positioned school.

Green land development

Legacy When the asylum center closes down the folk high school will remain on the site. The current buildings might be torn down or refurbished, but the landscape will already be developed and functioning, just as the organizational structure of the school will be in place. This will make it easier to continue the running of the school as well as possibly expanding with new subjects. The school have the opportunity to maintain the aspect of cultural encounters by opening up an exchange programme and invite international students to attend.

Asylum seekers and students work and learn together in the gardens 67

Jelling

Culturescapes Center Jelling is an example of a center located in an urban context but lacking identity. The center is socially segregated in spite of being centrally located in the host community. How can you both physically and socially integrate a center placed in close proximity to its host community? We have in this case worked with a structural approach and introduced a large new green space and exhibition park, playing on the strong identity of Jelling as a place of storytelling and historymaking.

Interventions The overall intervention in Jelling will be the creation of a counterpart to the Jelling Monuments site, through the establishment of an exhibition park and a path loop strengthening the connection between the northern and southern parts of the town as well as improving the recreational structure of the town. The main physical intervention is the creation of the Culturescapes Exhibition Park, a place where asylum seekers get to tell their own stories. The parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main element will be a landscape of Danish biotopes connected by a circular path leading you from one exhibition space to the next. At the center of the park the new Culture House is located. The building is currently being used by the local youth club for activities which will now be combined with creative workshops and a cafĂŠ. A terrace will be placed around the building, creating a common space for the three functions within the building. The vegetation around the terrace will be defined by characteristic trees such as Japanese Maple and Tibetan Cherry and lower plantings of edible flowers and herbs from home countries of the asylum seekers as far as possible, creating a contrast to the surrounding native, Danish plantings.

Encounters Cultural encounters will be staged through the exhibitions in the Culturescape Exhibition Park. Exhibitions will represent and reflect upon cultural encounters taking place in Denmark and in the world, as a consequence of migration and global conflict. This will add synergy to the already strong tourist attraction of the town of Jelling and widen the brand of the town, putting new perspectives on Denmark’s cultural past, present and future. The biotopes of the park will be a preview of the Danish landscape and as such allow asylum seekers to get acquainted with the Danish landscape in small scale, while also offering exhibitions through the various spatial expressions of the plantings. It will be a beautiful space in which tourists, locals and asylum seekers get to experience and reflect upon the exhibitions. The heart of the park will be the immediate surroundings of the Culture house where the youth club, café and workshop spaces to be found. The central location makes it a natural meeting place for the town as well as a place to pass through on your way to other things. This will make it possible for asylum seekers and locals to meet each other on an everyday basis in various settings of more or less organized activities. The youth club will be frequented by kids from the local schools as well as from the asylum school and give them the opportunity to form bonds across educational institutions and heritage. The café will be open to everyone, and provide internships for asylum seekers. Here, locals and asylum seekers get to be co-workers, share a cup of coffee and have small casual conversations. Personal encounters can take place in diverse settings and for different time spans. Here you have the opportunity for long conversations as well as quick chats.

The workshops will be a place for people to be creative, discuss and learn together with and from each other. Locals, tourists and asylum seekers alike can take part in or initiate workshops that will allow people to experience different kinds of cultural expression. Artefacts created in the workshops will be exhibited in and outside the cafĂŠ or in the exhibition spaces. In collaboration with National Centre of Excellence for the Dissemination of History and Cultural Heritage, new ways of communicating and understanding contemporary cultural history can be tested and evaluated. The people taking part in workshops will get the opportunity to personally encounter other cultural expressions and perspectives. The central location allows the park to become an integrated part of the green infrastructure of the town and therefore facilitate casual everyday meetings as well as arranged activities. In this way, the park will strengthen the connection between asylum seekers and locals, but also the experience of the town whether you are a tourist or a resident.

Placement and scale The new park is partially on the property of the center and partially on public ground. In this case we aimed to create a common space, shared by two existing user groups. This meant that both physically and socially the project overlaps the boundary between center and the local community. This project is a radical structural intervention in the town of Jelling. It will reshape the green infrastructure and make the southern part just as rich in cultural experiences as its northern counterpart. In this way the project will influence not only the area of the park, but the entire town. Furthermore, the exhibitions will benefit from the existing stream of tourists visiting the UNESCO site, and thereby have national and potentially international reach.

Legacy In the event of the asylum center closing down, the Culturescape and its functions will remain. The town of Jelling will have gained a strong addition to its identity as a storytelling town. The buildings of department Bredager, the former nursing home, can be refurbished to accommodate other uses, but it must be expected that the temporary pavilions of Skinbjerg will be demolished. This leaves room for possible new urban development in a very attractive central location. The public green space and the Culture House will ensure that the location remains a central meeting point for the residents of Jelling.

The terrace in front of the Culture House is a central gathering place bringing users together of the workshops, the youth club and the cafĂŠ 74

Langeland

Natural Encounters Four asylum centers are located on Langeland spread throughout the unique landscape of the island. The centers are part of a large scale asylum industry operated by the municipality. How can you create a landscape that includes and engages multiple asylum centers? We have, in this case, worked with a large scale nature restoration project, founded in a broadbased co-operation taking advantage of the asylum centers being operated by the municipality itself.

Interventions Natural Encounters is a large scale nature development project focused on the area around the coastal inlet Lindelse Nor. The largest intervention is the restoration of Henninge Nor which today is drained land and used for grazing but has been identified as an area with the potential to be a bird sanctuary of national importance. The restoration will transform Henninge Nor into a coastal wetland rich in natural beauty and biodiversity which can be explored from boardwalks and bird watching towers ensuring that visitors doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disturb the wildlife. In connection with Henninge Nor, the old pumping station used for draining the area will now house educational facilities available to both asylum schools and local schools. Here you can learn about the flora, fauna and geology of the area as well as about the rich local culture and history of Lindelse Nor. Furthermore, the existing regional Archipelago Trail that currently ends at Henninge Nor, will be continued all the way around Lindelse Nor and make the interesting coastal landscape accessible to locals and tourists alike. Activity spots placed along the path will highlight special experiences or activities along the path. This project will take advantage of the unique possibility offered by the establishment of an independent department for asylum centers in the municipality of Langeland. The fact that asylum is now a municipal sector in its own right opens up to new organizational opportunities. By creating a project that will be attractive to many different sectors of the municipality and support a range of visions formulated in the municipal planning strategy, the groundwork for a cross-sectoral collaboration is laid. By establishing a broad organizational anchoring of the project, we ensure that the specific number of asylum seekers and centers will not â&#x20AC;&#x153;make or breakâ&#x20AC;? the project. A project like this would be impossible for the asylum sector to carry alone, but in collaboration the various sectors are able to establish a project of this scale to mutual benefit.

Encounters The restoration of natural areas requires establishing as well as maintenance and, inspired by the project in Hanstholm (see p. 44-45), this will provide internships for asylum seekers from all centers on the island. This will create possibilities for landscape encounters, and provide meaningful work and an informal setting in which to socialize with locals and practise language skills. It will also allow asylum seekers to get close to the Danish nature and landscape and get a first hand experience of flora, fauna and seasons in the Danish climate. By making the area of Lindelse Nor easily accessible through the continuation of the Archipelago Trail, asylum seekers, locals and tourists alike are now free to explore the nature and make use of the activities along the coast. Improvement of existing coastal activities such as diving and kayaking will make the area more attractive for the users that are already there, but also make it easier for other user groups to take advantage of the possibilities of the area. This will provide an informal setting for personal encounters where people can meet over shared interests. The establishment of educational facilities and activity points will allow not only asylum seekers but also local schools to learn about the natural and cultural history of Langeland. Tourists and residents of the island can of course also use these facilities. This will provide opportunities for cultural and personal encounters.

Placement and scale The Natural Encounters project is located in Lindelse Nor due to existing plans and interests in the area, making it a place with wide appeal. Consequently, the project is detached from the asylum centers themselves, making it independent from the unpredictable opening and closing of the centers. The placement and scale of the project makes it accessible and attractive for everyone living on Langeland, anchoring the project in the local community of the entire island rather than the small town based communities around the asylum centers. Furthermore, the project reaches out to national and regional interests, while also giving a boost to nature tourism on Langeland which is already a popular destination for active tourists.

Legacy In the case of some asylum centers on Langeland being closed down, this project can easily stay functional and relevant through providing valuable natural areas, educational facilities, activities and connection along the coast. This means that in the long term, this project will have created a large-scale landscape attraction valuable to locals and a wide variety of visitors. It will also give the municipality of Langeland experience in collaborating across sectors around this kind of projects, and hence a method to start up similar projects on the island which has plenty of potential areas available. Experience from these projects will enable the municipality to teach and guide other municipalities to do something similar. An obvious place to start would be in the municipalities where Langeland is responsible for operating asylum centers.

Asylum seekers take part in the restoration and maintenance of Henninge Nor 81

SUMMARY, DISCUSSION & KEY FINDINGS In this final chapter we summarize, compare and discuss our work with the three cases.We point out key findings and conclude on our hypothesis and method.

Summary & discussion

In this thesis we have investigated the possibilities for working with landscape in the context of asylum centers. We have done so through the idea of “spaces of encounters”, our hypothesis that meetings between people, cultures and landscapes would help break down the invisible barrier between asylum seekers and their host communities. We have defined five points of attention: Type, spatial structure, context, time and organization, as defined in chapter three. We have chosen three cases based on their different characters within the points of attention, in order to investigate how our hypothesis would work under various circumstances: Center Auderød, Center Jelling and the municipality of Langeland. We approached all cases in the same way, namely by evaluating each site through the points of attention. Thus the processes were methodically the same, but nonetheless led to three very different strategies and designs. Center Auderød In the first case, at Center Auderød, we needed to find a way to activate a rather large landscape without any strong existing structure to latch on to. This led to a very programmatic approach where social functions and activities constitute the core of the project. The landscape provides a programmatic framework for organizing these activities. The addition of an entirely new social program - the folk high school - gave us the means to create a meaningful and permanent landscape even in a place characterized by the constant flux of people. The social temporality of a reception center is a huge challenge when it comes to creating something that will create value now as well as long term. Working with this programmatic approach allowed us to implement the future user group immediately which in turn made it possible to create a meaningful landscape without being completely dependent on the asylum seekers’ active participation. Allowing programs to co-exist and profit from each other’s presence makes it possible to start the preparation and development of future uses while creating a here-and-now value for asylum seekers and locals alike.

Jelling In the case of Jelling, we decided to choose a very structural approach in order to integrate our design into the fabric of the town. Working with the overall structure of the town enabled us to tie the project not only to the asylum center, but to the everyday life of the residents in Jelling. The hope is that by connecting with the existing structure and development potentials of the town, the project can be appealing and beneficial on a larger scale than just at the asylum center itself. This was very important to us since this is what will be of lasting value to the town after the center has closed down. So, an approach based on the structural context of an asylum center can not only improve the situation at the center, but be a potential resource in the overall strategy for planning and design of landscapes and urban areas. Langeland For the last case, the municipality of Langeland, we took an approach more focused on organization. The municipalities offered a unique possibility of investigating the potentials in involving the asylum centers in the municipal development plans and secure a wide anchoring of the project while attracting a variety of user groups and stakeholders. We chose our site based on existing development plans that points to Lindelse Nor as having large potential for both activities and biodiversity. This meant working with a landscape disconnected from the centers on the island. By organizing it as a space shared by all centers and locals alike, the activities in Lindelse Nor will be independent from the temporality of the asylum centers. This approach ended up creating a project that purposefully includes the asylum seekers rather than revolve around them. It involves many different interests and agendas by tapping into several municipal planning strategies. This is an example of how the asylum centers and the system around them can participate in projects not strictly focused on them.

Engaged in activities

Passive recreation

Initiative The three design proposals demonstrate different degrees of accessibility in the sense that different levels of initiative are required from the asylum seekers. At Center Auderød it was important to create something easily accessible to everyone, due to the stressful and tumultuous situation of living at a reception center. Not everyone has the personal resources to approach activities that make demands on them. As such, the project offers respite and recreational spaces as well as the opportunity to take part in work and activities as an integral part in the everyday life at the center. At Center Jelling, the green space is available for everyone to use and in close proximity to the center, but the asylum seekers have to show initiative in order to contribute to exhibitions or join the work in the café. At accommodation centers, asylum seekers stay for a longer period of time and are required to take part in internships. This allows for projects that demand a larger degree of commitment and initiative. In the case of Langeland, even though the landscape is of course open to everyone, it requires a lot of initiative from the asylum seekers because they must actually leave the center. The hope is that, because we work with several centers, enough asylum seekers will be interested to make it worthwhile. At Lindelse Nor, the landscape is more of a “visitors-landscape” compared with the other two cases where the landscape becomes a part of the daily life of the asylum seekers, whether they take an initiative or not. The concerns about how easily accessible these landscapes should be for asylum seekers also apply to the local residents. Here, some of the same issues are at stake - not everyone wishes to engage in volunteerism or other organized activities. This makes it important in all instances to incorporate formal as well as informal spaces of encounters. The cases demonstrate different ratios of each, but all of them contain both the formal and the informal.

“Ildsjælen”/Commitment The defined points of attention are characterized by being measurable or registrable, but there is another more elusive factor that is worth considering: “Ildsjælen” maybe best translated as commitment among the people present at the centers. During our own visits to asylum centers we experienced what a few committed people can accomplish. Initially we weren’t convinced that working with reception centers would be worthwhile due to the relatively short residency of the asylum seekers making it difficult to engage them. However, this concern was put to rest through the meeting with two very dedicated employees at Center Auderød who convinced us that, it is absolutely possible to create something meaningful in these settings. Committed people will have the drive to initiate projects and engage and encourage asylum seekers to participate. They will also have valuable knowledge about the resourcefulness and general energy of the asylum seekers. Even though we found such committed persons too uncertain a factor to include in the registration and analysis work, it is nonetheless a factor that might be worth bearing in mind, since these people can be valuable asset.

Think long term We have investigated the potentials for working with asylum centers in a larger development perspective. Compared to existing projects found around the country, the three cases in this thesis are rather large and somewhat complicated. This is, to some extent, intentional since we are convinced that while kitchen gardens and ad hoc collaborations have proven to be very valuable to the asylum seekers here and now, they have very little long term perspective, and only relate to their host communities to a small degree. In order to make working with asylum centers worthwhile, new projects need to have long lasting development potentials and a wide appeal. The wish to improve conditions for asylum seekers can be a controversial and sensitive subject. Clearly, not everyone agrees that this is a reasonable thing in which to invest. However, we have found that it is certainly possible to create landscape projects that not only improve the quality of life for asylum seekers, but also are of lasting value to host communities. By including the centers in larger development schemes, the projects can be lifted to a level where long term stakeholders and large-scale investors can be attracted and give the projects a real impact. We found in our cases that projects doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily have to revolve around the asylum centers but can rather include them as a resource. Projects that take their starting point in the centers can quite easily link to, and support, larger development plans and strategies making the projects relevant on multiple levels. The potentials for working with asylum centers is certainly worth considering, also when it comes to long-term development plans.

What should be left behind? Throughout our work on this project, we have discussed the notion of letting the asylum seekers leave something behind as recognition of their presence here. We originally thought that this would take shape in some kind of physical manifestation or symbolic object. We looked to projects such as Superkilen in Nørrebro where specific objects represent the different nationalities living in the area. We thought about letting every refugee plant a tree or participate in an artwork or help pick an object that could specifically represent their culture. But how do you represent the wide variety of nationalities residing in the asylum centers? And would you have to do this at every single center? And who would really benefit from a Syrian bench or an Iraqi lamppost being left behind? We came to the conclusion that what is really at stake here is not a common wish to objectify the differences between “their” culture and “our” culture, but rather a wish to contribute, to join and to unify. It is more about giving something back than it is about leaving something behind. We ended up creating projects where the landscape is the thing that is left behind, whether it is the designed landscape of a park or a more natural large scale landscape. These landscapes will carry a value of use as well as a symbolic value through the shared memory embedded in them. One could discuss to what extent the symbolic values would actually be durable compared to more obviously symbolic objects. However, we think that this kind of understated symbolism is more fitting in the context of small communities where shared memory seems to go deeper than in large cities like Copenhagen. Rather than just a reminder of the fact that asylum seekers once lived there, people will remember the encounters that shaped and took place within this landscape. Through shared as well as individual experiences people will have a more personal understanding of the significance of the landscape as a whole.

Working with “Spaces of encounters” Our idea of “spaces of encounters”, and our hypothesis that meetings between people, cultures and landscapes would help break down the invisible barrier between asylum seekers and their host communities, has worked as a mind-set with which to approach the project and as a guiding principle throughout the design process. It has been a useful “tool” for us to focus our design and to keep questioning and discussing our solutions. It has been a way of making sure that designs benefit not only asylum seekers but also its neighbours. During our work we have discussed the terms “personal”, “culture” and “landscape” and whether they could be considered too wide. For how long do you have to interact in order to have a personal encounter? Does personal information have to be shared or is small talk enough? And what about culture, how explicit does it have to be? Can you really have an authentic landscape encounter in a designed and stylized landscape? And couldn’t you argue that you have some kind of landscape encounter every time you go outside? We do not presume to have the answers to these questions but find them an interesting addition to the design process and a way to keep discussing how best to create spaces that embrace and bring together a wide variety of different people. Through our work we found that the notion of encounters was equally applicable in all three cases in spite of their many differences, and as such a mind-set general and flexible enough to be used in many diverse design situations. It is not a design tool as such, as it offers no proposition about the physicality of the encounters. You cannot design the encounters themselves; you can only design the framework for facilitating them. This of course leaves a lot of decisions up to each designer, but it also makes it a flexible approach rather than a rigid design manual.

Conclusion

We have found that our method allowed us to approach each site on its own terms, and enabled us to work with, rather than against, the inherent temporality of the centers. This makes it possible to design places that improve the everyday lives of asylum seekers while also benefitting the local area. The means with which to create spaces of encounters took very different shapes in the three projects and showed that each type of encounter - personal, cultural and landscape - can be facilitated through various strategies and designs. The encounters created in the projects also ranged from very explicit in their purposes, as in Jelling where cultural meetings are clearly facilitated, or more understated like the cultural exchange happening through asylum seekers and locals working together in Henninge Nor on Langeland. The range in the physical and programmatic character of the spaces of encounters means that they are not dependant on a certain function, scale or context but can be included in a variety of projects. By using the framework of spaces of encounters and considering the five points of attention we have developed a method that makes it possible to create multifaceted landscapes that break down barriers between people and create long-term value. All three projects give something back to their host communities by leaving valuable landscapes that improve and support local development plans and strengthen the identity of each area. In spite of the three projects having very different scales in both size and reach, they are of value in and of themselves even when asylum centers close down. This shows how working with landscape in relation to asylum centers has a potential for long-term quality that the built architecture struggles with. By thinking qualitative and long-term we have found an alternative to the current approaches focused on functionality and short-term solutions.

Epilogue

It is our hope that this project can contribute to the discussion of how to deal with the Danish asylum centers. We believe that a landscape-based approach holds a large potential for creating beautiful and socially responsible projects. It is, in our opinion, possible to design projects that create lasting value while also providing stimulating and meaningful landscapes for asylum seekers to benefit from during their stay in the Danish asylum system. By breaking down the invisible barriers between asylum seekers and their host communities, and by empowering asylum seekers and enabling them to be active, resourceful and healthy, we could give them a chance to contribute to society while staying in Denmark â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and we might even give them the strength to return to their homelands and improve the situation there. If Denmark took the initiative to change the way we handle the refugee crisis we might be able to turn what is currently a lose-lose situation into a positive and exemplary development. European countries are looking to each other for solutions, and Denmark has a chance be the good example rather than lead a race to the bottom.

REFERENCES

References Litterature Bendixen, M. C. (2011) “Asylum Camp Limbo - a report about obstacles to deportation”. Refugees Welcome /The Committee for Underground Refugees Denmark. Frederiksberg Bogtrykkeri, Copenhagen. Council of Europe (CoE) (2000) “European Landscape Convention and reference documents”, Cultural Heritage, Landscape and Spatial Planning Division, Strasbourg, France. Davidann, J. T., Gilbert, M. J. (2013) “Cross-Cultural Encounters in Modern World History”, Taylor & Francis Inc., Routledge, United States DN - Langeland (2007) “Fremtidens natur - Langeland”, Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Copenhagen Foucault, M. (1984) “Of Other Spaces: Utopias and Heterotopias” Architecture, Mouvement, Continuité, no. 5 (October 1984): 46–49; translated by Jay Miskowiec in Diacritics 16, no. 1 (Spring, 1986): p. 22–27. Hainmueller, J., Hangartner, D., Lawrence, D. (2016) “When lives are put on hold: Lengthy asylum processes decrease employment among refugees”, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science Advances Vol. 2, no. 8 (03 Aug 2016) Makhzoumi, J. Egoz, S. Pungetti, G. Eds. (2011) “The Right to Landscape Contesting Landscape and Human Rights”. Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Perry, L. B & Southwell, L. (2011) “Developing intercultural understanding and skills: models and approaches”, Intercultural Education 22, no. 6 (2011): p. 453-466. Poulsen, D. V., Stigsdotter, U. K., Djernis, D., & Sidenius, U. (2016) “Everything just seems much more right in nature: How veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder experience nature-based activities in a forest therapy garden”. Health Psychology Open, 3, p. 1-14. Robjant, K. Hassan, R. Katona, C. (2009) “Mental health implications of detaining asylum seekers: systematic review”, The British Journal of Psychatriy, 194: p. 306- 312.

Taylor, Ken (2008) “Landscape and Memory: cultural landscapes, intangible values and some thoughts on Asia”. In: 16th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Finding the spirit of place – between the tangible and the intangible’, 29 sept – 4 oct 2008, Quebec, Canada. [Conference or Workshop Item] UNHCR (2016) “Global Trends - Forced Displacement in 2015”. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Produced and printed by UNHCR

WEB Eddy, M. (2016) “Reports of Attacks on Women in Germany Heighten Tension Over Migrants” The New York Times, available from: http://www.nytimes. com/2016/01/06/world/europe/coordinated-attacks-on-women-in-colognewere-unprecedented-germany-says.html?_r=0 [Accessed 08-08-2016] European Commission (2001) “Country Profile: Denmark”, Directorate General for Justice and Home Affairs, available from: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/ home-affairs/e-library/docs/pdf/denmark_final_en_en.pdf [Accessed 09-082016] Goll, M. (2009) “The Asylum Dialog Tank and The Trampoline House, 2009 A Process of Empowerment, Agency, and Social Change” Available from: http:// mortengoll.org/?p=457 [Accessed 26.07.2016] Graversen, M., Gottschalck, A. (2016) “Asylansøgere forflyttes efter sigtelse for voldtægt på Langelandsfestival”, Berlingske Nationalt. Available from: http:// www.b.dk/nationalt/asylansoegere-forflyttes-efter-sigtelse-for-voldtaegt-paalangelandsfestival [Accessed 07-08-2016] Johansen, S. R. (2015) “Asylansøgere bliver ydmyget med meningsløs praktik”, Videnskab.dk, available from: http://videnskab.dk/kultur-samfund/ asylansogere-bliver-ydmyget-med-meningslos-praktik [Accessed 22-07-2016]

Jørgensen, S. A. (2016) “Flertal for udgangsforbud på asylcentre”, JyllandsPosten Politik, available from: http://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE8889495/ flertal-for-udgangsforbud-paa-asylcentre/ [Accessed 07-08-2016] Kingsley, P. (2016) “UN backlash against call to scale back Geneva convention on refugees”, The Guardian, available from: https://www.theguardian. com/world/2016/jan/06/un-backlash-against-call-to-scale-back-genevaconvention-on-refugees [Accessed on 04-08-2016] Langeland Municipality (2012) “Oplevelseskatalog; udvikling af landskabsoplevelser på Langeland” Langeland municipality and NIRAS. Available from: http://www.e-pages.dk/langelandkommune/24/ [Accessed 23.04.2016] Langeland Municipality (2016) “Planstrategi 2016-2029” Langeland Municipality. Available from: http://www.langelandkommune.dk/~/media/ Files/Administrationen/__Infrastruktur/By_Landskab/Planstrategi%202016. pdf [Accessed 19.05.2016] Migration flows - Europe. Available from: http://migration.iom.int/europe/ [Accessed 30-06-2016] Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing (2016) “L 87 Forslag til lov om ændring af udlændingeloven”, available from: http://www.ft.dk/RIpdf/ samling/20151/lovforslag/L87/20151_L87_som_vedtaget.pdf [Accessed 26.07.2016] Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing (2016) “The Danish Aliens Act” LBK nr 412 af 09/05/2016”, Copenhagen. Available from: https:// www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=180093#idb183c8d4-d6ce4fbf-9fad-c37a596228eb [Accessed 09-08-2016] Naturstyrelsen (2013) “Landskabsatlas for Langeland kommune” available from: http://www2.nst.dk/download/planlaegning/landskabsatlas.pdf New to Denmark: The Danish Immigration Service and the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration’s official web portal about rules for entering and residing in Denmark. Available from: https://www. nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/asylum/asylum.htm [Accessed 22-07-2016]

The Independent Asylum Commission (2008) “Saving Sanctuary. The Independent Asylum Commission’s first report of conclusions and recommendations: How we restore public support for sanctuary and improve the way we decide who needs sanctuary.” Available from: http://www. citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/pages/reports/SavingSanctuary.pdf [Accessed 09-08-2016]

Images Book 1 p. 38-39, 53-54, ©polfoto p. 45 Stewart, Hamish Book 2 p. 58-58 ©polfoto

APPENDIX

Appendix 1:

Glossary Terms

Convention Refugee A displaced person who has been forced to cross national boundaries in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. They are defined and protected in international law (UN Refugee Convention), and must not be expelled or returned to situations where their life and freedom are at risk. Quota refugee A refugee residing outside of Denmark can be resettled in Denmark following an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a similar international organisation. Migrant A person who moves from one place to another in order to find work or better living conditions. Asylum seeker A person who flees into another country and applies for asylum, i.e. the right to international protection, in this country. An asylum seeker may be a refugee, a displaced person or a migrant, such as an economic migrant. A person becomes an asylum seeker by making a formal application for the right to remain in another country and keeps that status until the application has been concluded. Unaccompanied Minor When foreign nationals under the age of 18 come to Denmark and seek asylum without their parents or other adults who can replace the parents, they are termed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unaccompanied minor asylum seekersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Asylum Refugees can be granted asylum and given a residence permit for a maximum of two years. A refugee who is granted a residence permit in Denmark, and who has not previously held a Danish residence permit, is subject to the regulations stipulated in the Danish Integration Act relating to housing placement. These regulations specify that the Immigration Service will decide where in Denmark the refugee is to live.

102

Authorities and agencies The Danish Immigration Service The Danish Immigration Service (DIS) is a directorate within The Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing. The service administers the Danish Aliens Act, in other words, it handles applications for asylum, family reunification, visas, work permits, etc. In addition, the service is engaged in a wide range of other duties relating to the asylum and immigration area, including the task of accommodating asylum seekers. The Danish Refugee Appeals Board The Danish Refugee Appeals Board (FlygtningenĂŚvnet) is the body that decides in Immigration Service cases that have been appealed. The Refugee Appeals Board functions as a court of justice, and makes its decisions by majority vote. Appeals are heard and decided upon by a five-member panel. The panel is made up of: a chair, who is a judge, a member appointed by the Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing, a member appointed by the Danish Council of Lawyers (AdvokatrĂĽdet), a member appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and a member appointed by the Danish Refugee Council. UNHCR The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is a United Nations programme mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

103

Legislation The Danish Aliens Act The original Danish Alien Act of 1983 has been significantly altered since its conception. Especially the asylum policy bill passed by the parliament in January of 2016 radically tightened the Danish policies on refugees, introducing among others the infamous jewellery law and a three-year waiting period to apply for family reunification. Other elements of the bill include: tougher requirements to obtain permanent residency (leaving a great part of refugees without a chance of ever getting it); a reduction from five to two years stay for refugees; abolition of the access to housing outside the camps for families with children; and tightening the rules for withdrawal of a residence permit (Lov om ændring af udlændingeloven, 2016). The bill is directly aimed at discouraging refugees heading for Denmark and was advertised in Lebanese newspapers. The bill has been widely criticised internationally and even the Danish state’s own Institute of Human Rights says this is a direct breach of article 8 of the European convention on human rights. This renders Denmark as one of the European nations with the toughest Alien Act and has sent Denmark on collision course with human rights and the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UN Refugee Convention The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention, is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do not qualify as refugees, such as war criminals. Denmark was the first state to ratify the treaty on 4 December 1952, which entered into force on 22 April 1954.

104

The Dublin Regulation The Dublin Regulation (Regulation No 604/2013) is an agreement between EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein that determines that an application submitted in one of the EU-countries will only be processed by one country. The rule does also ensure that there is always one country that is responsible for processing an application for asylum. The Dublin Regulation is primarily concerned with identifying which country is responsible for processing an application for asylum. The regulation includes criteria for determining which country is responsible. In order of precedence, they are:

- The country where the applicantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family is legally present. - The country that issued the applicantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence permit or visa. - The first member state the applicant entered as an undocumented foreign national. - The country where the applicant initially requested asylum.

The Schengen Agreement The Schengen Agreement is an agreement facilitating the free movement of persons and services across the internal borders of the Schengen Area. At the same time, the agreement also increases control of the external borders of the Schengen Area and strengthens efforts to prevent cross-border crime and illegal immigration. Schengen countries have all ratified the Schengen Agreement. Currently these countries are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

105

FORSIDE: BOOK 2 SPACES OF OFSPACES ENCOUNTERS

ENCOUNTERS - an investigation into the possibilities of working with landscape in the context of asylum centers in Denmark

Book 2 Michala Kaja Krebs Nanna Maj Stubbe Ã&#x2DC;stergaard Landscape Architecture Master Thesis University of Copenhagen September 2016

SPACES OF ENCOUNTERS - an investigation into the possibilities of working with landscape in the context of asylum centers in Denmark Book 2 30 ECTS Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thesis Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Michala Kaja Krebs, slh494 Nanna Maj Stubbe Ă&#x2DC;stergaard, mps608 Supervisor: Anne Tietjen University of Copenhagen September 2016

Michala Kaja Krebs

Nanna Maj Stubbe Ă&#x2DC;stergaard

Contents

[1]

Center AuderĂ¸d:

Common Ground 8 11 17 20 24 26 28 30 34 40 41 42 44

[2]

The center Context Timeline Layers Spatial structure Potentials Vision & strategy Strategic plan The gardens Users Actors & stakeholders Encounters through... Phasing

Center Jelling:

Culturescape 48 50 52 56 60 64 66 68 70 72 82 88 89 90 92

The center The town of Jelling Context Timeline Layers Spatial structure Potentials Vision & strategy Strategic plan Culturescapes Exhibition Park The Culture House Users Actors & stakeholders Encounters through... Phasing

[3]

Municipality of Langeland:

Natural Encounters 96 98 100 102 104 106 107 110 112 116 119 120 124 125 126 128 132 134

[4]

The island of Langeland The asylum industry The centers on Langeland Timeline The lay of the land Characteristic landscapes Particularly valuable landscapes Potentials Chosen site - Lindelse Nor Vision & strategy Strategic plan Henninge Nor Users Actors & stakeholders Organisation in the municipality Project organisation Encounters through... Phasing

Appendix 138 Individual presentations of the centers on Langeland

Center AuderĂ¸d is an example of a center both physically and socially isolated from the host community. The center exists as a town apart from other towns in the area, and interaction between asylum seekers and locals are very limited. The center is situated in a beautiful landscape and has plenty of space at its disposal, yet none of this is used or appreciated in the everyday life at the center. How can you create a clear identity and invite in the local community at a center situated in a remote location? We have in this case worked with the introduction of a new function and user group at the center - a folk high school - in order to create balance between the constant flux of asylum seekers and a steady long-term development.

CASE [1]: CENTER AUDERÃ&#x2DC;D

COMMON GROUND

The center

Reception

204

Red Cross

Center

Asylum seekers

Nationalities

Volunteers

Operation

Type Auderød is a reception center receiving families, children, couples and singles. The center can accommodate up to 1.000 people but today the number is 204 residents from 33 different nationalities. During the last 6 months the number of refugees has fluctuated between 200 and 500. Spatial structure The buildings are former military barracks built in 1958. The horseshoe structure of 11 two story buildings is used for housing in shared bedrooms for 2-6 people. The canteen serves food three times a day and is connected to a café which is a common meeting place. Other buildings house a health clinic, a school, kindergarten, woman’s house and a recycling shop. The property is a total of 72 ha most of which is old shooting terrains now unused and poorly maintained. The landscape between the buildings is very large and consists mainly of cut lawn with no programmes or identity. Context The center is located on the peninsula of Arrenæs in close proximity to Arresø, the largest lake in Denmark, and Auderød forest. Frederiksværk, the nearest town is approximately 5 km away. The center has a fence running along its perimeter, a remnant from the military days, which impedes access to the center and the forest behind it. Time The center opened in 2010 as a temporary accommodation center. It closed down in 2014 and reopened in September 2015 as a reception center. The average residency for refugees is 14 days; however, this covers a range from 5 days to 2-3 months. Organisation The center is operated by the Red Cross. The center is manned around the clock and around 60 people work here and approximately 56 volunteers are affiliated with the center. DIS rents the buildings from Freja Ejendomme.

Center Auderød Farmshops Nursery

Halsnæs Municipality

Context

Center Auderød is located in the municipality of Halsnæs, part of the region of greater Copenhagen. Halsnæs is known as the “green corner of North Zealand”. The area consists of agricultural land, forests and lakes, small harbours, summerhouses, sandy beaches and a broad range of recreational activities and associations. Cultural heritage Halsnæs is part of the nationalpark The North Zealand of the King’s, wherein Arresø is an important and well-visited area. Furthermore, several historical traces are found in the landscape such as Bronze Age hills, barrows, churches, farms and manors. Ecological farms and food production Halsnæs is rich in food production and ecological farming. Local produce is sold in farm shops and at farmers markets. The ecological village Dyssekilde, one of the oldest in Denmark, is located in the area. Farmers in Halsnæs are joined in the association “Spisekammer Halsnæs” committed to promote locally processed and high quality produce and animal welfare. Recreational area The municipality is practically surrounded by water, Kattegat to the north, Roskilde Fjord to the west and Arresø to the east. This makes water based sports and activities very popular. Many routes for hiking or biking are connected to points along the shores. Fishing is a popular pastime in the area, both in the sea and in the lake.

nter Auderød

Center Auderød Associations Schools National park; North Zealand of the King's Railway Forest

Arrenæs 1:25.000

Host community Frederiksværk is the closest larger town to Center Auderød at a distance of approximately 5 km and a population of 12.282. The town is the capital of Halsnæs and is the oldest industrial town in Denmark and in 2007 the city center was selected as one of Denmark’s 25 national cultural heritage sites. The smaller towns Auderød, Brederød and Lille Kregme are mainly housing. Community There is a strong community in Halsnæs and a long tradition for volunteerism. Many social organisations are active in the area, some taking advantage of the opportunities the landscape has to offer. There are 3 public schools in Halsnæs municipality, two of them located in Frederiksværk. The Volunteer Center Halsnæs is an organisation that helps local enthusiasts with projects and creates cooperation between volunteers and the municipality. Plenty of people volunteer at the asylum center. There is generally a positive attitude towards the asylum center both politically and among local communities. The municipality agreed to host the center with a large majority vote when the center first opened. However, the political atmosphere changed when the center re-opened as a reception center without the municipality having a say in the matter.

Nature Center and Auderød Harbour

Auderød Willow Farm

Auderød Forest

Center Auderød

Arrenæs

Arresø

Immediate surroundings Arrenæs Center Auderød is located on the peninsula of Arrenæs which has a varied mosaic landscape of farmland, lush hardwood forests, hills, marshes and lakes. The landscape is prioritized on a national level due to its part in the National Park Arresø Arresø is the biggest lake in Denmark with a surface area of 40,72 km2. The lake is the foundation for the industry in Frederiksværk. Today fishing, canoeing and boating are popular activities on Arresø. Auderød Forest The forest is 72ha and is a recreational area with shelters, bird watching tower and Nature Center Auderød Harbour. The hilly terrain of the forest makes it a popular destination for mountain biking. Nature Center Auderød Harbour The harbour is an old military harbour now used by Nature Center Auderød Harbour. It is the natural entrance to the national park and Arresø. In collaboration with the Nature Agence the center has ongoing plans to improve the possibilities for activities on and around Arresø.

1842

1995

Agricultural land

Auderød military camp

1954

Auderød barracks under construction

2016

Asylum Center Auderød

Timeline

1800 The farms Lerbjerggård and Glædelundsgård cultivated most of the peninsula. 1958-(2007) The military barracks was built in 1958 and the Navy’s school was housed there until 2007. The old farmhouses of Lerbjerggård and Glædeslundsgård remained and were used by the military. 1995 Through the years dense vegetation grew up along the perimeter of the area and the forest was allowed to expand, creating wooded areas on the premises. 2010-2015 The Danish Immigration Services rented the barracks in 2010 converting them into an accommodation center operated by the Red Cross. In 2015 Freja Ejendomme was planned to sell the now worn property to developer Bjørn Ibsen who wanted to establish a boarding school, a health center, a women’s crisis center or a folk High School on the site. Freja Ejendomme retracted the offer of sale when the immigration services wanted to extend their lease. The center only use the area around the buildings and the former shooting terrain has turned fallow. 2016-2018 In April 2016 the center renewed its contract for two more years. In effect Auderød will remain in function as a reception center at least until 2018.

[1]

[5]

[3]

[4]

[2]

[6]

[3]

[1]

[2]

The housing barracks

[4]

The main gate

Old shooting-field

Focal point for everyday meetings near the canteen and administration buildings

[5]

Remnants from the military

[6]

The old farm GlĂŚdelundsgĂĽrd

Layers

Functions The buildings are located in the western part of the site and are a typical military construction with wide open spaces making it easy monitor the space between the buildings. The 11 barracks are placed in a horseshoe formation is used for housing, though one of them used to be used for fire drills and is now closed off. Administration, school, health center and canteen is located in the middle of the area in individual buildings. All buildings look alike; poorly maintained, grey concrete structures and are only identified by their functions. Two old farm buildings; Glædelundsgård and Lerbjerggård are still located in the area. Lerbjerg is centrally located and is used as kindergarten and women’s house, while Glædelundsgård is unused. The employees have started a project of restoring the unused farm and establish workshops and a little cafe. They also want to have bees, chickens and small gardens accessible for both asylum seekers and visitors. This project is in collaboration with the project “The selfsufficient asylum center” facilitated by Chora Connection.

Infrastructure AuderĂ¸dvej is the only access road to the center. You have to pass through a manned gate which controls the traffic in and out of the center. The gate is clearly a remnant from the military use and makes for a less than inviting entrance. AuderĂ¸dvej divides the site by running through it in a straight line. Smaller roads within the site connect the buildings to the main road. There is a lack of connections to forest and lake which means that asylum seekers rarely leaves the area and users of the surrounding landscape are discourage to visit the center.

The edge Center AuderĂ¸d is clearly divided from its surroundings by a linked fence and dense vegetation. Towards the west, and the only road going around the center, terrain adds to the barrier formed by the vegetation. AuderĂ¸d forest and ArresĂ¸ defines the borders towards north and east. The strong edge amplifies the isolation of the center.

Landscape There is a clear sense of inner and outer landscape due to the strong edge. However, the forest extends into the area. The wooded areas surround the build structures loosely dividing the area into two types of landscapes; the well-maintained lawns by the buildings and the overgrown area of the former shooting-terrain. In general the landscape is characterized by large open spaces with none or very little programming.

Spatial structure

Based on functions, landscape character and spatial experience; the area can be divided into several spatialities.

FOLDESIDE 1 (axonometrisk plan)

Potentials

FOLK HIGH SCHOOL

SPACE

Knowing that there is existing plans for establishing a folk high school can help us focus the strategy to target both current and future needs. Green land development could help make the area attractive and functional when the center closes down, in spite of the need for extensive refurbishment of the buildings.

The center has a very large landscape at its disposal. This means that it is possible to establish very space-consuming programs such as farming and husbandry without compromising the possibilities for recreational programs.

ECOLOGICAL FARMING

ON-GOING PROJECTS

Halsnæs is known for being “the green corner” of northern Zealand and has a strong identity as a farming community focused on ecological and sustainable food production. The ecological village Dyssekilde expands every year and attracts many people and associations interested in ecology. This is a strong and developing identity and community-base that could be interesting to include in the development of Center Auderød.

The ongoing project “The self-sufficient Asylum Center” at Center Auderød, includes the asylum seekers in the process of farming, from preparing the fields to tending to the crops and to harvesting, cooking and eating the final products. The aim is to be the first self-sufficient asylum center in Denmark. The fact that things are already in motion is a catalyst for further development.

The vision for this project is to establish AuderĂ¸d Folk High School on the site of the asylum center, allowing the two institutions to co-exist and benefit from each other. Asylum seekers and students will meet in shared landscapes through a common focus on food and culture. The idea is to start the future development of the site immediately, by adding a new and permanent user group in some of the vacant buildings on the site. This will bring a group of people to the site that have the driving force to improve and develop the landscape into a learning landscape focusing on ecological food production.

Vision and strategy

[1] Establish Auderød Folk High School Establishing the school now will not only improve and benefit the current situation but also give a head start to future development of the site, and make possible a folk high school with a unique social and cultural outlook. The school will be an integrated part of everyday life at the asylum center by sharing essential functions such as kitchens, classrooms and landscape. [2] Create synergy By placing new functions in existing buildings on site, we can create synergy between the activities of the school, internships and daily lives of asylum seekers. [3] Structure the “inner landscape” Creating a clear structure in the inner landscape of the center will help organize the shared landscape and create a framework for new programs such as outdoor classrooms, recreational space, food production and various activities. [4] Connect to the “outer landscape” By creating connections through and from the center, the hard edge around the center is broken down. New pathways will lead locals as well as visitors through the area on their way to existing activity points while also enabling students and asylum seekers to use the surrounding landscape.

Strategic plan

Folk High School - New user group

Synergy between functions on site

Activate inner landscape

Connect to outer landscape

FOLDESIDE 2 (plantegning)

Masterplan 1:4000

Asylum seekers and students work and learn together in the gardens 33

The gardens

Learning gardens

Space for respite

Active and flexible space in between gardens

The clearly defined gardens of the inner landscape will offer various programs and vegetation catering to different needs and purposes. Common to all is the possibilities for respite and contemplation in a green space. The landscape will not only be a source of produce but also a place for peace and quiet. The landscape in between the gardens will be more active and flexible making larger social gatherings possible. The gardens will also function as learning spaces where students from the school will work with plants, soil and cultivation. Asylum seekers can join the work in internships and learn about the Danish flora and its different uses, ecology and sustainable farming. Produce from the gardens and fields can be used in the kitchens or sold on market days where people from the local area can come visit the center allowing locals and asylum seekers to get acquainted. The gardens can also provide space for teaching to local institutions, interests and visitors.

FOLDESIDE 3 (plantegning)

N Zoom in, The Gardens 1:1000

Open space in between the gardens 37

The gardens

Users

Actors & stakeholders

Encounters through...

Respite

Learning

The landscape will provide smaller, green spaces where asylum seekers can find peace and quiet from the tumultuous life at a reception center. Asylum seekers are in a very stressful situation when arriving to AuderĂ¸d and these green spaces are there to give them respite.

The gardens will invite asylum seekers to take part in, and learn about, the farming and cultivating of the ground. The gardens can be included in the teaching at the asylum school for the children and provide internships for adults.

Health

Social interaction

Many asylum seekers are in poor health when they arrive in Denmark. Through the cafĂŠ and shared kitchens, healthy eating and cooking will be promoted and encouraged. This is also a chance to experience culture through cooking.

Center AuderĂ¸d is the asylum seekers first meeting with Denmark. Here, young people from all over Denmark will greet them and encourage personal encounters. Asylum seekers will get their first glimpses of Danish culture through the workings of the folk high school, and get their first chance to experience and learn about Danish social norms.

Phasing

Center Jelling is an example of a center located in an urban context but lacking identity. The center is socially segregated in spite of being centrally located in the host community. How can you both physically and socially integrate a center placed in close proximity to its host community? We have in this case worked with a structural approach and introduced a large new green space and exhibition park, playing on the strong identity of Jelling as a place of storytelling and historymaking.

CASE [2]: CENTER JELLING

CULTURESCAPES

The center

Accommodation

423

Red Cross

Center

Asylum seekers

Nationalities

Volenteers

Operation

Type Center Jelling is an accommodation center and today 333 asylum seekers consisting of families, singles and couples, lives at the center. Spatial structure The center consists of two departments - Bredager center which consists of 24 red brick buildings formerly used as a nursing home. Skinbjerg is a collection of pavilions and barracks south of Bredager and is the oldest part of the center. The asylum school is located in the building of the old town hall 500 meters from the rest of the center. Services such as kindergarten, health clinic, administration, job center and canteen are located in the Bredager department, while a youth club is housed in Skinbjerg. Location The center is located centrally in the town of Jelling, 12 km from Vejle. The center is placed close to social institutions such as schools and kindergartens but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share outdoor facilities with them. The train station and town center is within short walking distance of the center. Time The center is one of the oldest centers in Denmark - it opened in 1993 as a refugee village for Bosnian refugees. It was originally thought to be a temporary solution, but has instead been expanded four times since then. As such the center has a rather long relation to the town and represents the evolvement of the Danish reception of refugees. Organisation The center is operated by the Red Cross and is part the Mid Jutland department. The center has 76 volunteers connected to it. Two other centers are placed in Vejle Municipality, Children's Center Thyregod and Accommodation Center Sandvad, which are also run by the Red Cross. These two centers share school and health clinic with Center Jelling.

Asylum school

Bredager

Skinbjerg

The town of Jelling

Jelling is a railway town in the municipality of Vejle, Region of Southern Denmark and has a total population of 3.370. The town consists primarily of housing and has few industries. There are, however, several schools and a small but well-functioning town center. Bredager School, the largest public school in Jelling, has been chosen as a UNESCO school, with a mission to expand the knowledge & appreciation of the World Heritage sites. Jelling is surrounded by agricultural land to the north and dramatic terrain with the subglacial Grejs Ådal and Jelling Forest to the south. The railway runs through the center of the town and divides it into a northern and a southern part. Preservation of the Jelling Monuments has prevented urban development to the north and since 1970’s the newer residential areas and institutions are located south of the railway. Jelling is also a stop on the Ancient Road Hærvejen which is a historic thoroughfare that follows the glacial ridge of East Jutland. UNESCO World Heritage Jelling is an old and historically important town in the history of Denmark. In the Viking Ages it served as the royal seat of the first Monarchs of the Kingdom of Denmark. During the latter part of the 1800s Jelling became a much visited site of historical interest and the stream of visitors remains constant. Whilst the memory of the actual events became lost in time, the symbolic importance of the site never diminished. In 1994 the Jelling monument, the first in Denmark, was included in the list of UNESCO sites regarded as being part of our worldwide cultural heritage. The UNESCO monument includes the two runic stones in front of the Church, the Church itself and the two mounds to the north & south of the church. In 2014 to 2015 a large scale modernization of the site was carried out, with a new visitors center and a highly praised landscape project by Kristine Jensen. This made tourism in the town boom and approximately 140.000 people came to visit the site in the last seven months of 2015. A tendency that is expected to continue.

Agricultural land

Hærvejen

Jelling Monuments

Jelling Station

Center Jelling

Bredager School

Jelling forest

Grejs Ådal

Fårup Sø

Context

Jelling is located centrally in the municipality of Vejle only 12km from the city of Vejle itself. The municipality brands itself on being home to the Jelling monuments and therefore Jelling gets more attention and investments than most other smaller towns in the area (Planstrategi 2015). There are three asylum centers in the municipality. Center Thyregod and Center Sandvad both originate from the center in Jelling and their residents still go to the asylum school in Jelling. The town is therefore a gathering point for all asylum seekers in the municipality.

The town of Jelling 1:15.000

Infrastructure Jelling is connected to Vejle and Herning by the railway that has been running through town since 1841. Trains leave once an hour and is supplemented by local busses. Highway 422 connects Jelling to Ă&#x2026;rhus and Vejle. In 2012 a bypass road was built north of the city to lead traffic around the town in order to minimize traffic around the Jelling monuments.

Culture and institutions Jelling has several institutions around town. The town center where most shopping and cultural institutions can be found is located north of the station. Here you also find “Byens hus” where library, cinema and several local organizations are located. The two public schools are located south of the railway, the same as kindergarten and nursery home. Bredager School in Jelling has been chosen as a UNESCO school, with a mission to expand the knowledge & appreciation of the World Heritage sites. The University College Lillebælt has a department in Jelling with a teacher and educator education, and is a dominating workplace in Jelling. The UCL is also home to the National Centre of Excellence for the Dissemination of History and Cultural Heritage.

The town of Jelling 1:15.000

Landscape Green space within the town is limited. There are some smaller ponds, but the largest green areas are the Jellings monuments site and the sports fields by Bredager School. The site of the Jelling Festival and sports fields near Gormshallen are located on the fringe of town. The town center is generally green, but consists of many small and poorly structured spaces. By the asylum center you find a small field in relation to an old farmhouse. The field is inaccessible but is nonetheless one of the larger green areas in town. Overall the green structure of the town is rather irregular but there are, however, local wishes to change this.

Timeline

Center Jelling is one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest centers. It opened in 1993 as a refugee village for Bosnian refugees. Today it consists of 2 departments; Bredager with its 24 red brick buildings and Skinbjerg which consist of pavilions. Ironically, the pavilions of Skinbjerg were the first to be erected, and was meant as a temporary housing solution. Since then, the center has been expanded four times in response to increasing numbers of refugees coming to Denmark.

1954

The area was fields

1993-1997

The first pavilions were erected in order to house 350 Bosnian refugees. They moved out in 1997.

1999

The center reopened to house Kosovo Albanians.

2016

Asylum school

Bredager

Skinbjerg

2001

Refugees from Iraq moved into the pavilions in 2001. The small town of pavilions was expanded.

2003

Department Bredager is included in the center in order to improve the living conditions.

2009-Today

In 2009 extra pavilions were added to Skinbjerg once again. The former townhouse of Jelling was rented to the Danish Immigration Service in order for Red Cross to use it as asylum school.

Bredager

Skinbjerg

Layers

Functions Housing is located in both departments of the centers. Skinbjerg is primarily housing while Bredager is part housing part administration and shared facilities. A youth club, also used by kids from the local public schools, is located in one of the pavilions in Skinbjerg. Kindergarten, job center, gym, canteen and administration is located in the brick buildings of Bredager. The asylum school is also frequented by asylum seekers from the two other centers, Thyregod and Sandvad. Public institutions and transportation are placed in close proximity to the center.

Infrastructure The center is located between Bredager, FĂĽrupvej and Skinbjerg, which are the three main access roads to Jelling. A public path runs through the area of the center and connects to the public schools. The center is also located very close to the main crossing of the railway which is used to get to the asylum school. The railway divides the town in two and can only be crossed three places within the town, one of which only by pedestrians.

Landscape Overall the center is located in very green surroundings, but much of this green space is inaccessible or used very little. The landscape around department Bredager is quite lush, but seems only to be used by very few people. The outdoor space at department Skinbjerg consists mainly of road and parking space, but also offers a few playgrounds. At the junction between the two departments, the youth club has established activity areas for skating and BMX biking. On either side of the center you find large open spaces in the shape of sports fields and agricultural fields respectively.

Edge The asylum center is accessible from several different points and is not perceived as having a clear boundary. There is however dense vegetation and a field restricting access to the area from the south. The playground of the asylum kindergarten is fenced off, effectively impeding access to department Bredager from the east.

Spatial structure

Based on functions, landscape character and spatial experience; the area can be divided into several spatialities.

Potentials

DANISH HISTORY

STORYTELLING

Jelling is instrumental in the Danish history and the shaping of Danish culture. Jelling is on all curriculums in Danish public schools, and most Danes have a general understanding of the importance of the town. The fact that Jelling is already an integrated part in the story of Denmark’s past, gives it a really strong identity to build upon, makes it really interesting when it comes to telling the story of Denmark’s present and future.

Due to its important role in Danish History, an established tradition of storytelling is prominent in Jelling. The National Museum of Denmark is responsible for telling the story of “Royal Jelling” and National Centre of Excellence for the Dissemination of History and Cultural Heritage is located in the town.

UNESCO

CONNECTIVITY

The status as an UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts an increasing number of tourists, both national and international, every year. This means that stories told in Jelling has the potential to spread far and wide.

Jelling is not a large town, which means that everything is within walking distance. The asylum center is placed centrally in the town and therefore has the potential to serve as a connecting space between essential functions in town as well as being an important node in its own right.

Catalytic situations 1:5000 67

The vision is to create a place that enables Jelling to be a place that tells the story of important cultural encounters in Danish history - both past, present and future. A place that allows asylum seekers to tell their own story and a place that will benefit all residents of Jelling regardless of ethnicity.

Vision and Strategy

[1] Exhibition and storytelling Create an exhibition park allowing Jelling to have a central role in telling the story of contemporary cultural encounters and the ongoing evolvement of Danish culture. Refugees and mass migration is part of modern world history as well as Danish history, and the exhibitions in Jelling will recognise this global phenomenon while telling the story in a Danish context from the point of view of refugees as well as Danes. This will tap into the already strong tourist attraction of the town and widen the brand of the town, putting new perspectives on Denmarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural past, present and future. [2] Connect and reflect Establish a path loop strengthening the connection between the northern and southern parts of the town and improving the recreational structure of the town. This will help create balance between the two cultural sites, allowing for them to inform and reflect on each other and create coherence in the experience of visiting the storytelling town of Jelling. [3] Common green space Create common green space for everyone in furtherance of the overall green structure of the town. This will create a valuable and permanent recreational space for residents and visitors in Jelling, and secure places for casual everyday encounters. [4] Social anchoring Strengthen existing social programs and create space for personal encounters and interaction. We build onto the exiting function of the youth club already housed in one of the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building, creating a strong social anchoring of the project.

Strategic plan

Story telling - past, present and future

Common green space

Connect and reflect

Social anchoring

Plan 1:5000

Culturescapes Exhibition Park

Heart of the park The Culture House

Exhibition space

Natural flow

The Culturescapes Exhibition Park will be experienced by following the white circular path from one exhibition space to the next. The planting will consist of native biotopes, framing the exhibitions with different spatial expressions from dense to open, lush to sparse. This way, each opening in the vegetation will be a new experience and walking the path from one end to the other will be a walk through a condensed and stylized version of the Danish landscape. The terrain will give the park a dynamic expression and help emphasize and frame the exhibition spaces. The park will be connected to the rest of the town by two public paths running through it, allowing for people to pass through on their way to other things, creating a natural flow through the area. An open green space of meadow will flow down the middle of the par, creating space for activities in connection to the Culture House in the center of the park. The meadow will also provide playgrounds and flexible shared space for everyone in Jelling to use.

Open green space

Plan 1:1000

The vegetation scheme of the circular path is comprised of characteristic Danish biotopes. By walking the path, you will walk through a condensed and caricatured version of the Danish landscape. The various expressions of the biotopes will create very different spatial and textual experiences.

[1] Birch forest [2] Alder swamp [3] Heath [4] Coniferous forest [5] Deciduous forest

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Collage of atmosphere in exhibition space with decidious forest

Collage of atmosphere in exhibition space with birch forest

The Culture House

Workshops The workshops will be a place for people to create, discuss and learn with and from each other. Locals, tourists and asylum seekers alike can take part in or initiate workshops that will allow people to experience different takes on cultural expression. Pieces created in the workshops will be exhibited in and outside the cafĂŠ.

Cafe The cafĂŠ will be open to everyone, and provide internships for asylum seekers. Here, locals and asylum seekers get to be co-workers, share a cup of coffee and have small casual conversations.

Youth Club The youth club will gather kids from the local schools as well as the asylum school and give them the opportunity to form bonds across educational institutions and heritage.

Plan 1:500

Cafe

The terrace in front of the Culture House is a central gathering place bringing users together of the workshops, the youth club and the cafĂŠ 86

Users

Actors and stakeholders

Encounters through....

Exhibition

Cultural knowledge sharing

Through the exhibitions and workshops, asylum seekers get a chance to tell their stories from their point of view. This gives a chance to tell about the culture they come from, and how that shapes their lives. It also encourages them to encounter the culture of others cultures and reflect on how people from different backgrounds can live side by side and benefit from a multicultural environment.

The asylum school and the asylum seekers can create educational programs in relation to the area around the cafe. In cooperation with local schools, the cafĂŠ can be a platform for knowledge sharing about different cultures and histories. Asylum seekers can tell the locals about their cultures and norms, and vice versa. The asylum seekers could gain understanding about Danish culture and at the same time learn the Danish language.

Internships

Everyday life

The operation of the cafe will provide internships for the asylum seekers. The cafĂŠ will be open to everyone, locals and asylum seekers get to be co-workers, share a cup of coffee and have small casual conversations. Personal encounters can take place in diverse settings and for different time spans. Here you have the opportunity for long conversations as well as quick talks.

The park will create a frame for informal meetings with the local residents when walking a tour in the park, sitting on a bench or being on the playground. This will allow them to practice language skills and social norms in an informal setting, which will improve their chances of integration and job possibilities later on.

Phasing

Four asylum centers are located on Langeland spread throughout the unique landscape of the island. The centers are part of a large scale asylum industry operated by the municipality. How can you create a landscape that includes and engages multiple asylum centers? We have, in this case, worked with a large scale nature restoration project, founded in a broadbased co-operation taking advantage of the asylum centers being operated by the municipality itself.

CASE [3]: MUNICIPALITY OF LANGELAND

NATURAL ENCOUNTERS

The island of Langeland

The island of Langeland is 52 km long, up to 11 km wide and is a total of 284 km2. The main town on the island is Rudkøbing, which is also by far the largest, and smaller villages are scattered throughout the landscape. The small scale of the villages gives one the feeling of the landscape being omnipresent - nature is always close by. There is only one main road which runs down the middle of the island, and from which smaller roads connect to the coast in a kind of herring bone structure. The coast is only easily accessible via these smaller roads, and traveling along the coast can be difficult, if not impossible. Langeland is known for its unique and beautiful landscape, where you can find both naturally and culturally valuable areas like coastal cliffs, wild horses and barrows. There is a strong tourist industry on the island, mostly based on outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking. Current planning In 2016 the municipality released the plan strategy 2016-2029, where emphasis is on strengthening the tourist attraction of the island, especially focused on nature based activities and experiences. They aim to do so by improving access to the 140 km coastline, and start landscape development projects that focus on the balance between usability and protection. Two reports on potential landscape experiences, “Landskabsatlas for Langelands kommune” and “Experience catalogue - development of landscape experiences in the municipality of Langeland”, has been published for the municipality during the last few years, both of them pointing to specific areas of interest on the island when it comes to developing the landscape and nature on Langeland. The reports are used by the municipality to help focus the efforts.

The asylum industry

The municipality of Langeland have had great success with taking over operation of asylum centers from the Red Cross, and has since taking over the first center in 2011 expanded to being the largest municipal operator in the country. The decision to take over operations from the Red Cross was prompted by the intended closing of Center Holmegaard, then the only center on the island, which would have meant the loss of several local jobs. Currently the municipality operates 14 centers including the four on the island.

Due to the success and growing importance, the municipality has dubbed it the asylum industry and it is now one of the biggest industries on the Island, creating revenues upwards of 100 mio dkk per year, 25 mio of this within the municipality itself. This happens through the centers hiring local craftsmen and buying supplies locally, while asylum seekers spend their pocket money in local stores (Larsen et. al., 2015). Since 2011 the asylum industry has created approximately 70 local jobs and 142 jobs in total (Langeland Municipality, 2016). In April of 2016, the municipality instituted an asylum director, Sisi Eibye, who is the first of her kind. This was done as a move to better integrate the asylum sector into the municipal organization. Sisi Eibye started by reorganizing the structure of the sector, creating better possibilities for collaboration within the municipality itself but also between Langland and the other host municipalities. In the other municipalities, Langeland is in charge of establishing and running the centers, but often collaborates with the other host around health care and education.

These are the centers included in this proposal

[1]

[1] CENTER LOHALS Opened 2012 2 employees

Former nursing home and annexes

[2] CHILDREN’S CENTER TULLEBØLLE Opened 2015 58 employees Former school

[2]

104

[3] CENTER HUMBLE

140

Opened 2012 46 employees Former city hall + pavillions

[4] CENTER HOLMEGAARD

[3]

Opened 1993 14 employees

380

[4]

N 100

Langeland 1:200.000

Former barracks + pavillions

The centers on Langeland

101

Timeline 2011 Center Holmegaard faces closure for the second time and in response the municipality of Langeland takes over operations in order to save the jobs created by the center.

1993

2004

2009

2012

The Danish Red Cross opens the first center on Langeland, Holmegaard, for housing bosnian refugees.

Center Holmegaard closes down when the number of refugees declines.

Center Holmegaard opens again in response to the rising conflict in Syria. Again the center is operated by the Danish Red Cross.

Two new residential centers opens in Lohals and Humble.

102

2014

March 2015

October 2015

April 2016

The first children’s center opens in Lindelse, housing 88 children.

A larger children’s center opens in Tullebølle and the center in Lindelse closes down and is instead labeled “emergency response” center.

A high number of unaccommpanied children arrives in Denmark, and in response the municipality re-opens the center in Lindelse, now housing 54 children.

Because of a significant decrease in the number of asylum seekers Center Lindelse closed down and was converted to back to emergency resonse center.

103

The lay of the land

Urban structure

104

Infrastructure

Everyday life

Active coast

105

Characteristic landscapes

106

Particularly valuable landscapes

Source: Landskabsatlas for Langeland kommune

107

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hatbakkerâ&#x20AC;? - characteristic hills

108

Agriculture

Wild horses

Coastal cliffs

Gulstav Marsh - Bird sanctuary

Old coppica forest

109

Potentials

110

UNIQUE LANDSCAPE

ASYLUM INDUSTRY

The unique landscape is a huge resource for the island, because it is one of the main things attracting tourists and new residents. Hence development and protection of the landscape is paramount to the municipality. The landscape is an omnipresent factor, no matter where you are on the island, you are close to nature.

The ongoing process of establishing the asylum sector as an individual department within the municipality opens up new possibilities for crosssectoral collaborations within the municipality, hence making new types of projects possible for, and accessible to, the asylum industry.

USER GROUPS

LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT

Langeland is already an attraction for both national and international tourists and visitors due to its broad range of activities and landscapes. This means that alongside the locals, many different people are found using the landscape of the island - all potential users of new landscape projects.

The municipality have an explicit wish to prioritize the development and protection of nature and landscapes on the island. An extensive ground work to help pinpoint potential sites and strategies are already published and ready to use. This is an excellent starting point for new projects.

111

Chosen site - Lindelse Nor

Proximity

Planned development

Exisisting use

We have chosen to work with Lindelse Nor as the site for our project. This is done based on the fact that it, in all existing plans and reports, are pointed to as an area with large development potential. Lindelse Nor is part of the South Western coastal landscape of Langeland and is a unique example of a flooded stone age landscape. The inlet is shallow and has a rich wildlife and cultural heritage. A “nor” is a nature type that is characteristic for Langeland, a coastal inlet with wetlands that are constricted by sand and stones. Henninge Nor is a now drained inlet currently used for grazing. The Danish Society for the Conservation of Nature have pointed to Henninge Nor as an opportune place for nature restoration, while the assessment of the Danish Ornithology Association is that the area has the potential to become a bird sanctuary of national importance. The lake Snarremose Sø has already been the subject of a successful nature restoration project. The site is centrally located on the island, close to Rudkøbing and Longelse where asylum seekers shop and go to school. Placing our focus here also means that all centers can use it equally, and that the project is independent from the number of asylum seekers and centers on the island. The site is already popular for diving and kayaking and you can also find a beach where you can swim or tie up your boat. This means that there is already an existing user group in the area.

112

N Lindelse Nor 1:30.000

The vision for this project is to create a landscape that through a broad collaboration of actors and stakeholders can attract and bring together asylum seekers, locals and tourists. Based on existing plans we wish to create an active coastal landscape rich on experiences and valuable nature.

116

Vision and strategy

[1] Nature restoration Restore the coastal inlet of Henninge Nor and other valuable nature areas. The restoration of natural areas requires establishing as well as maintenance and, inspired by the project in Hanstholm, this will provide internships for asylum seekers from all centers on the island. It will also create a natural area rich in flora and fauna, as well as experiences. [2] Extend the Archipelago Trail Access to the coast of Lindelse Nor will be vastly improved by the continuation of the Archipelago trail. This will allow visitors to the area to better experience the area, just as it will include Lindelse Nor in places to visit for tourists hiking the route. [3] Establish educational facilities The area around Lindelse Nor is rich on the natural as well as cultural history of Langeland. Due to its location relatively close to local schools, the area presents an opportunity for new ways of teaching in the landscape. The old pumping station by Henninge Nor will be the base for educational facilities available to both public schools and asylum schools. [4] Activity spots Existing activities along the coast should be strengthened by providing better facilities. Especially interesting or beautiful spots along the Archipelago Path will be highlighted by activity spots that encourage and enables visitors to better use and experience the landscape.

117

N Lindelse Nor 1:30.000

Strategic plan

The coastal path will connect natural areas and activity spots along the coast. The largest nature area will be Henninge Nor, where an educational base for schools will be based. Along the coast there will be access to diving spots where you can explore a flooded Stone Age village and the beach where you can take a swim. Several kayaking stops will make the landscape accessible from the water as well. The coast can be explored one area at a time, or as one long hike around the inlet of Lindelse Nor.

Nature restoration

Extend the Archipelago Trail

Educational facilities

Activity spots

119

Henninge Nor

Nature restoration

Education

Experience

The largest intervention will be the restoration of Henninge Nor into the coastal inlet that it used to be. The restoration of natural areas requires establishing as well as maintenance and, inspired by the project in Hanstholm, this will provide internships for asylum seekers from all centers on the island. It will also allow asylum seekers to get close to the Danish nature and landscape and get a first-hand experience of flora, fauna and seasons in the Danish climate. Educational facilities established in the old pumping station will make it possible to teach a variety of subjects, and make it possible for local schools, including the asylum schools, to take advantage of the landscape around them. The area will be rich on flora and fauna, especially birds, and will be open to explore and experience by walking the boardwalks and climbing the birdwatching towers.

120

N Henninge Nor 1:10.000

121

Asylum seekers take part in the restoration and maintenance of Henninge Nor 122

123

Users

124

Actors & stakeholders

125

Organisation in the municipality

On the 1st of July 2016, Sisi Eibye presented the new organisation of the asylum sector in the municipality of Langeland. The vision is to establish a tradition for collaboration and better possibilities to share knowledge between the centers and across sectors. The structure is based on having two main districts and two districts managers who are also managing centers. Other new initiatives are suggested by improving the asylum schools and the health care systems through better collaboration with the local institutions. In May we had a meeting with Sisi Eibye, about her new title and what her vision for the future of the asylum industry is. Here we got to discuss our thoughts and ideas of our project, and she gave us some insights and pointers:

“It will be important for you to include other actors and stakeholders to coordinate and manage the project - the asylum sector is not yet geared to manage these kinds of projects, but I would be very open to collaborations” “I think it will be important to find something that can activate the asylum seekers, but also benefit the locals - this way you can create interest for other sectors in the municipality”

126

The new organisation of the Department of Asylum as presented by Sisi Eibye

127

Project organization

Currently the asylum sector in the municipality is not geared to take on larger development projects. However, their placement within the municipal organization makes it possible for the sector to enter cross-sectoral collaborations. By ensuring that the project supports existing development plans, we can include other relevant departments in the project. We suggest that the Department of Infrastructure main will the main collaborator, since they will be the once to establish the project. Other departments such as culture and leisure, social and health, schools and day-care and social and families, might be included as well since the project could be of interest for them as well.

The current organization in the municipality - only departments that mig be relevant for this project is included in the chart.

128

We suggest a model where the Department of asylum and the Department of infrastucture manages the project. The project group should be broadly anchopred in the municipality in order to ensure that the project reaches its full potential. The project will be monitored and advised by experts within the respective fields.

129

The beautiful nature of Henninge Nor can be experienced from boardwalks 130

131

Encounters through...

132

Internships

Education

The restoration of Henninge Nor and the general maintenance of the area will provide internships for the asylum seekers. This might be practical work such as clearing vegetation, monitoring flora and fauna or reparing structures. It might also be courses in the use of equipment or more technical assigments that will add to their qualifications.

Educational programs can be tied to the area in various ways. Language education can take place both formally and informally while working in the area, just as knowledge about the landscape and cultural history can be gained from the area.

Experiences

Social network

The area will provide a free space away from the centers, where asylum seekers can find peace and quiet or take part in various physical activities outside of internships and other mandatory programs. The area will also enable asylum seekers to get close to the Danish landscape and its wild life .

The combination of user groups and the bringing together of several asylum centers will allow asylum seekers to meet and interact with people from outside their own centers. This will allow them to practise language skills and social norms in an informal setting, which will improve their chances of integration and job possibilities later on.

133

Phasing

134

135

APPENDIX In this appendix you will find individual presentations of each of the four centers on Langeland

Lohals 1:10.000

138

[1] Center Lohals

Accommocation

center

Asylum seekers

Type Center Lohals is an accommodation center for families. Spatial structure Center Lohals is housed in refurbished buildings formerly used as a nursing, home and annexes in the nearby residential area. The outdoor space is consisting of a common grass lawn. Context The center is located in the harbour village Lohals, the most northern town on Langeland, with 468 inhabitants. The center is located centrally in the town, near the harbour and coast. The center is surrounded by residential area and next to VestervĂŚnge forest and has easy access to the landscape of northern Langeland. Time The center opened in October 2012.

139

TullebĂ¸lle 1:10.000

140

[2] Children’s center Tullebølle

Childrens’

104

center

Asylum seekers

Type Tullebølle is a children’s center for unaccompanied children between 14 and 17 years old. Today 104 children live at the center. Spatial structure The center is located in the old school in Tullebølle, which has been renovated to accommodate the asylum center. Some buildings have been torn down and pavilions built with 4 person’s rooms, shared kitchens and toilets. There are several activities at the center such as fitness, music room, workshops, sports fields etc. Context The center is located in the northern part of Langeland 7 km from Rudkøbing. The center is located in the outskirt of the town Tullebølle, the second largest town on the island with 782 inhabitants. The center is surrounded by football fields, park, residential area and agricultural fields. The sports fields besides the center can use to play football. Time The center opened in 2014

141

Humble 1:10.000

142

[3] Center Humble

Accommocation center

140 Asylum seekers

Type Center Humble is a accommodation center for singles, families and couples. The main administration and health clinic for all the asylum centers are placed in Humble. Spatial structure The building structure is former station and municipal offices. The main building is a red bricks stone house and 15 pavilions are built to expand the accommodation. The center is surrounded by a road, houses and fields. There is a little playground in front of the house. Location The center is located in the outskirt of the town Humble with 598 inhabitants. The center is placed across the grocery and gas station. Time The center opened in 2012.

Grocery Residental area Gas station

Fields Fields

Vegetation

Surronded by roads, residental area, fields, forrrest

143

Center HolmegĂĽrd 1:10.000

144

[4] Center Holmegaard

Accommocation center

380 Asylum seekers

Type Center Holmegaard is an accommodation center primarily for singles but also house families. There are menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s departments facilitated after demand. Today 380 asylum seekers live at the center. Spatial structure Holmegaard is an old manor, and has since the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been part of the Langelands fortress and used as marine barracks. Today the build structure consists of a combination of the old barracks and temporary pavillions. The outdoor areas are large and there are still leftovers from the military terrain. The shooting field is still active once in a while. There is kitchen gardens and beehives used and maintained by asylum seekers. Context The center is located in beautiful green, manor-like surroundings. An avenue leads into the area and there is a lake on the site. The center is located 7 km away from the nearest town Bagenkop, and is surrounded by agricultural land and forest vegetation. Time In 1993 Red Cross opened the asylum center for Bosnian refugees in the old barracks. Later it changed to be a multiethnic asylum center which functioned until 2004. The center reopened in 2009 to 2010. In 2011 the municipality took over the operation. The center is among the eldest asylum centers in Denmark.

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