Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Denmark
open workshops for people to come with their input and ideas, and we have had so much positive feedback as a result.” Designed by Adept architects, Vestre Fjordpark was among three nominees for the Danish Landscape Award 2017 and was nominated as one of the four best new buildings in Aalborg Municipality in 2017. Furthermore, it has just been announced that the park is among the finalists in the Sport in Architecture category at the World Architecture Festival, taking place in Amsterdam in November.
Beach, woods and plain The design of Vestre Fjordpark divides the large green landscape into several smaller parts, each with their own identity and character. Each area blends elements of the natural landscape with a range of sports and outdoor activities. In the wood and wetland area, for example, guests can explore the greenery and its wildlife through a network of small paths and enjoy their lunch at covered picnic tables. Meanwhile, ‘the plain’ is characterised by large, open grass fields and courts for football, handball and beach
volleyball. Finally, there is the beach zone, where visitors can enjoy the large open-air pool, springboards and an over-water bouldering wall. “The heart of the park is the large openair pool. It varies in depth from zero to five meters and adjoining it is a water and sand playground, with slides and activities for the smaller children,” explains Hougaard. “For the bigger children and teenagers, there’s an area for springboard diving, as well as a sevenand-a-half-metre-tall bouldering wall, with a free drop into the water.” He adds: “We’re not quite sure, but we think it’s the tallest of its kind in Denmark.” The beach area also comprises a number of individual buildings, which are bound together by a connected roofscape, with built-in trampolines and sun decks. The buildings house a sauna, a small café, changing rooms and toilet facilities, as well as local organisations, which include the Aalborg winter bathers. No wonder that come sun, rain or snow, people are jumping with joy in Aalborg’s new outdoor wonderland.
Vestre Fjordpark, the facts: Vestre Fjordpark is open 24/7 and access to the park and its facilities is free. The park is located three kilometres from the centre of Aalborg and is easily reachable by bus, foot or cycle. Facilities include: beach volleyball courts, a 50-metre outdoor pool with springboards, sundeck and bouldering wall; street basketball, velodrome, paths for cycling, running and walking; a sky view tower; picnic tables, a forest obstacle course, zip line, café, changing rooms, fireplaces, water obstacle course, sauna, and more. As with the rest of the park, the lido is open 24/7. Lifeguards are present during the day in high season. The parks spans 165,000 square meters, the equivalent of approximately 23 football fields. Activities available through organisations and clubs include: stand up paddle boarding; kayaking; diving; guided nature walks; and water polo.
Web: www.aalborg.dk/fjordpark Facebook: Vestre Fjordpark
Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, beach handball and water polo are just some of the activities available in Vestre Fjordpark.
Issue 114 | July 2018 | 89