Naturkraft, which means “nature power” in Danish, is a 50-acre Exploratorium showcasing the importance of environmental stewardship at the coastal town of Ringkøbing. Designed by Thøgersen & Stouby and SLA, the project cost $65 million and is predicted to attract 280,000 annual visitors.

Naturkraft features three connected zones that are guided by the themes of observation, participation an understanding.

The Observation zone is bordered by a 600-metre-long ring that rises to 12 metres, offering views of the surrounding landscaping and the Ringkøbing Fjord.

The Participation zone features a nature and adventure park with play equipment and a 17-km-long cross-section of local biotopes. Eight nature typologies are represented including sand dune, heathland, marsh and forest.

The Understanding zone features a 5500-square-metre building to host exhibitions. A tent-like translucent façade constructed for ETFE site at the highest point of the wall to emulate a constant connection to the outdoors. the internal nature arena includes ‘dissemination installations’ for furthering the conversation on the importance of nature for humans.

“Naturkraft is both about the visible nature powers that humans experience and use in nature, and about the deep-seated aesthetic sense of nature that nature phenomena awaken in us,” says Stig L. Andersson, design director and founding partner of SLA. “Nature is what allows us humans to live good and meaningful lives. For both survival and living. In Naturkraft we show how the use of natural processes can shape our future cities and communities. Not by hitherto destroying existing nature, but by learning from nature and living with and not against it.”

Photography by Torben Petersen and Thøgersen&Stouby via SLA