Climate change is a threat and an opportunity for the private sector. Denmark is turning climate change solutions into a business opportunity. In this case, the asset is salt water. Denmark’s Climatorium is Built to Protect the Asset of Salt Water.
Lemvig Climatorium is part of the Coast to Coast Climate Challenge (C2C CC) which is a 6-year climate project that runs till the end of 2022. The overall purpose of the collaboration within the C2C CC is to secure assets from the negative consequences of climate changes. The initiative is being carried by the region’s government and several private and public organizations–like the local utility company–with the help of European Union funds.
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Denmark’s Climatorium Built to Protect the Asset of Salt Water
Copenhagen-based architects 3XN, working in collaboration with Orbicon and SLA, have won a competition for the design of a new $7.9 million building, the Climatorium in Lemvig, Denmark. The scheme seeks to form a modern interpretation of the area’s nature and fishing culture, while also influenced by local climate conditions.
The main purpose of Lemvig Climatorium is to focus on salt water; to collect knowledge about water which is relevant to the trade and industry as well as to tourism and the local population. Architecturally, the predominantly timber scheme balances a dual role of a public amenity serving science and the arts and a working laboratory geared towards the mitigation of climate change. The timber entrance has adopted the form of a wave, referencing a ship’s hull, and Scandinavian fjords.
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Offices and public space
The two-story building will have offices and public space to host exhibitions about climate change, conferences, concerts, and events, as well as a permanent café. The building will be energy neutral.
The building has a glass façade that opens to the Lemvig Harbor, which makes the wooden-clad first floor appears as if is floating in the air. Around it, a landscape called the Climate Wedge is made with soft curves that represent the meteorological isobar lines that represent the typical weather of the city.
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The local utility company, Lemvig Vand og Spildevand A/S, is the major player in Lemvig Climatorium.
Phase one: First step is to look into and identify the possibilities and interests for tourism and furthermore to study the potentials for working together with other tourist attractions in the region.
The initiative already counts 31 private and public partners and 19 supportive partners. That, in turn, could create jobs and spur economic growth.
Denmark’s Climatorium Built to Protect the Asset of Salt Water, written by Tor Kjolberg