The “Exterior Living Room” pavilion.
“Civil society holds enormous potential for combating issues like loneliness. ‘Vores Sted’ is an attempt to stimulate local communities in a new way and see how much of a difference we can make by constructing simple buildings using very few materials, exactly where people dream of gathering. Hopefully, these structures will help create new connections in the local area, encouraging more people to drop by and get to know new faces in the community.“
- Jesper Nygaard, CEO, Realdania
design driver
The goal of the project is to provide versatile and inviting meeting places for Denmark’s self-organized communities. Designed as simple pavilions with a distinctive gabled roof, they are both recognizable and archetypal in Denmark’s built environment.
The “Workshop” pavilion.
The pavilions are designed to serve a diverse range of communities, cultures, and individuals, offering four basic typologies with varied functionality and expression to suit distinct needs and atmospheres. These variations are reflected in a choice of cladding options and predefined features such as seating and storage elements.
The four pavilion types available for communities to choose from include two closable and two open versions:
(1) the “Workshop” pavilion
(2) the “Exterior Living Room” pavilion
(3) the “Nature Base” pavilion
(4) the “Community Roof” pavilion.
The design goal is to create a structural framework that offers protection against Denmark’s unpredictable wind and weather, while remaining open and inviting to its surroundings and adaptable to various community needs. This is achieved through specific design features:
In the closable typologies, a transparent sliding facade seamlessly connects indoor and outdoor areas, complemented by a large roof overhang that establishes an active, sheltered perimeter.
The indoor space is sized to comfortably accommodate up to 25 people, yet maintains an intimate atmosphere for smaller groups, with abundant natural light enhancing the interior environment.
Depending on the typology, a functional back wall supports a variety of community activities. This wall opens to both interior and exterior spaces, serving as a versatile backbone in each pavilion.
Architectural idea and design drivers.
Architectural anatomy of the pavilion and its components.
Each of the four pavilion types creates a distinct interior environment.
process in both design
and community
involvement
The public application process for ‘Vores Sted’ has been open and free to anyone with a great initiative and a desire to create a space for their community. The first round of applications closed in October 2024, with 679 communities across Denmark applying for a pavilion. The first 60 pavilions are expected to be built in 2025, marking the 25th anniversary of Realdania.
The application process has been designed with a philosophy of being inviting, intuitive, and accessible to everyone.
An online application portal has been designed for applying for a pavilion, where you can choose the type, configure your own, and select and verify the location of your pavilion.
The project has been developed through close collaboration between six teams, technical advisors, and the Realdania Foundation. Through joint workshops and a coordinated design process, a range of pavilions and space-creating components have been designed, reflecting the collaborative approach and philosophy upon which the future communities inhabiting the pavilions will be based on.
