KALØ SLOTSRUIN

Visitors Access to Archaeological Site, Kalø, Denmark – First Prize 2013

First prize for the 2013 competition to design the arrival area, new access, and viewpoint at Kalø Slotsruin, one of Denmark’s oldest medieval ruins. Situated east of Århus, the site attracts up to 200,000 visitors annually.

The project emphasizes both the cultural heritage of the ruin and the natural qualities of the surrounding landscape. It achieves this through carefully designed movement paths and sightlines, highlighting key views within the ruin and the interplay between the access structure and the expansive view over Kalø Bay.

Previously, the ruin’s tower was hollow and inaccessible. The new staircase now allows visitors to ascend through this void, creating a visual and spatial journey that connects archaeological history with the panoramic landscape.

Client: Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark – Nature Agency. Year of Construction: 2016