Klimatorium in the town of Lemvig is Denmark’s international climate center. With rising sea levels and temperatures and increasing risks of extreme weather events as the new normal, Klimatorium serves as an innovative and creative mini hub that both facilitates and showcases storm surge, water, and climate research. Located on the harbourfront, the building combines rustic and pragmatic architecture with local handcraft tradition that draws inspiration from the area’s long history as a fishing community.
The waterfront of Lemvig is formed by its function as a port through many centuries. Laid out in two storeys, Klimatorium adapts to the low scale of this urban landscape with a simple and pragmatic design. The otherwise subtle building is distinguished by a sculptural hollowing in the southern façade that opens the climate center up to its surroundings and makes space for the community somewhere between the exterior and interior.
Research and exhibition under one roof
As a climate center, Klimatorium combines research facilities and public spaces. As such, the purpose is to create a place for social synergies and collaboration to thrive and where locals, tourists and institutions can come to learn about the changing climate and the innovative solutions that are being developed in-house.
This informs the design approach, creating an alluring building without compromising the simplicity and pragmatism of the interior functions. The upper floor of the building is dedicated to the companies, providing office, meeting, and lounge spaces, while the publicly accessible ground floor serves as an open and flexible exhibition area where new research can be showcased, as well as housing a café.
Raw and rustic expression
From the exterior through to the interior, Klimatorium draws inspiration from the rich culture of the area and its relationship to the water. The material palette is reminiscent of the nearby boat halls with wood, concrete and steel, bringing a raw, rustic, and honest expression. The double height structure is wrapped in ash-black vertical louvers that recall the tarred undersides of the boats in the port while also more practically protecting from direct sunlight.
The symbol of the building is a wooden ‘wave’ that rises above the main entrance and makes Klimatorium an easily recognizable landmark. This undulating motif forms a liminal space between the outside and inside. As such, it functions as a sheltered seating space that lets visitors and the public alike feel protected from the elements while still experiencing them.
Beyond the likeness of a wave, the main inspiration for the striking shape comes from fishing boats that have been built in the region and in Denmark for thousands of years. Here, the design team collaborated with the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde to accurately mirror the interior of a boat’s hull in both form and materiality.
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The wave carves into the exhibition space as an overwhelming yet detailed structure that draws attention to the local traditions of craftsmanship.
“The tiled wave made of wood gives the building a strong identity. Both inside and out, it becomes a gathering point and social meeting place for Klimatorium employees and guests as well as the people of Lemvig,” says Jan Ammundsen, Senior Partner and Head of Design, 3XN.
An urban space formed by the environment
Klimatorium highlights the development of Lemvig’s waterfront from a commercial port to one of Denmark’s most impressive experience ports. For this, the landscape around the building is designed around the concept of ‘the Green Climate Corridor.’ Here, flood protection is fully integrated into the urban space so that it does not cut off the sea from the city but strengthens the connection to the water. The landscape is structured in accordance with prevailing wind conditions, while a permeable floor allows water to seep away, which would otherwise cause large amounts of runoff during storms or when seawater spills over.
This motif interacts with the soft lines of the adjacent skatepark and forms an intuitive route through the landscape while creating pleasant, sheltered spaces for recreational use. The vegetation is based exclusively on local plants that thrive in the coastal environment and require a minimum of care.
The climate corridor serves as an outdoor space where the staff of Klimatorium can conduct experiments and provides the town of Lemvig with an urban space that draws people to the port.
Klimatorium Project Details:
Project Name: Klimatorium
Architect: 3XN Architects
Client: Lemvig’s City Council and Lemvig Utility
Location: Lemvig, Denmark
Collaborators: SLA, Orbicon
Status: Completed 2020
The project description is provided by 3XN Architects.
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