Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter win competition to design vistor centre at UNESCO-protected Greenland glacier
Danish architectural firm Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter have unveiled designs for an arctic visitor attraction designed to draw visitors to Greenland.
The proposed Icefjord Centre in Ilulissat – a town in the Qaasuitsup municipality in western Greenland – will help develop Greenland’s tourism and will demonstrate the history and culture of the ice fjord, as well as highlighting the dramatic melting of the UNESCO-protected Greenland ice sheet.
Scheduled to open in Q3 2020, the development is designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding landscape and is a collaboration between the Greenland Government, Qaasuitsup Municipality and philanthropic organisation Realdania.
Dorte Mandrup’s winning design stretches across the landscape, resembling “the flight of a snowy owl”, according to the architect. Part of the existing hiking trail, the building offers views of the ice fjord and surrounding landscape. Designed to be integrated with the surrounding landscape, the open facade of the building creates “dialogue between man and nature.”
A wooden framework designed as a truss bridges the rugged landscape, curving out over the edge of the Sermermiut Valley and creating a series of stirring viewpoints. A gently sloping boardwalk crosses the building’s roof, becoming the starting point for a World Heritage Trail and forming a gathering point, viewing platform and informal seating area.
“We selected the proposal from Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter as the winning project because it is a very poetic and visionary project with an architectural unity that underpins the overall vision beautifully,” said Jan Søndergård, spokesperson for the selection panel and partner of KHR arkitekter. “The new building will streamline smoothly with the spectacular natural landscape.”
Snøhetta, Kengo Kuma and Associates and Rintala Eggertsson Architects were among the other shortlisted firms in the running to design the project.
The Icefjord Centre is expected to draw 25,000 visitors annually. The philanthropic association Realdania is contributing DKR83m (US$12.6m, €11.2m, £8.6m) to the project, while DKR15m (US$2.3m, €2m, £1.6m) is coming from the Government of Greenland and DKR8m (US$1.2m, €1.1m, £827,000) is from Qaasuitsup Municipality.
The developers are seeking further donations of DKR10m (US$1.5m, €1.3m, £1m) to fund exhibitions and activities inside the centre. Charitable international foundations Bloomberg Philanthropies and the OAK Foundation have each made unspecified donations. According to representatives of the centre in the long run the visitor attraction will be self-sustaining, financed by its own revenues.
According to the Greenland’s tourism strategy, the centre is the first of five such visitor centres, which will be used in efforts to drive increased tourism in the country. The Icefjord Centre will also serve as a gathering point and activity centre for the local community.
“Promoting tourism is high on the government agenda,” said Vittus Qujaukitsoq, minister for Industry, Labour, Trade and Foreign Affairs for Greenland. “One of the cornerstones of our new strategy for tourism is to set up regional visitor centres. Therefore, I’m extremely pleased to see the Icefjord Centre taking shape. Our partnership with Realdania is a vital contribution to developing tourism in the years to come.”
Construction work will be managed by Realdania, and through its Realdania By & Byg subsidiary, will have the building ready for the first tourists, researchers and local visitors in the allocated time frame.
Dorte Mandrup Greenland Fjord Qaasuitsup municipality visitor attraction tourist attraction
MVRDV's spiky Danish Museum of Rock opens in Roskilde
Kengo Kuma wins competition to design fairytale-themed Hans Christian Andersen museum expansion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
BodyHoliday plans 10-15 locations in the next 15 years
Floating wellbeing destination planned for London’s Royal Docks
