Skagen Odde Nature Centre
Encyclopedia
The Skagen Odde Nature Centre , on the northern tip of Denmark
's Jutland
, is a museum devoted to the effects of sand, water, wind and light. It was designed in 1989 by Jørn Utzon
, the celebrated architect behind the Sydney Opera House
. Under the leadership of his son Jan
, the centre was completed in 2000.
, itself 40 km north of Frederikshavn
. Apart from the nearby radar station, it is the northernmost building in the area, not far from the point where the Kattegat
and the Skagerrak
meet. The surrounding area known as Grenen
, rich in bird life, offers interesting walks along its sandy beaches.
The "Desert Fortress", as it has been called, is enclosed by a brick wall, four metres high, which protects the 4,000 square metre activity area from the often stormy weather outside. The grey concrete buildings are topped with black roofing felt. A number of separate pavilions, each with a pyramidal roof and periscope-like skylight, document sand, water, wind and light. Between them are small courtyards, pools and walkways. The balcony on the café's upper floor provides views of the surrounding landscape, covered in ever growing amounts of sand. There is also an observation tower looking out over the dunes.
In Utzon's own words: "With its free-standing high walls with their powerful buttresses, the complex achieves the peace and simplicity that bring it into harmony with the grandeur of nature, the surf and the sky."
and the Skagerrak
meet at its tip. Then there is the Råbjerg Mile
, a huge moving sand dune, Grenen
with its sandy beach celebrated by the Skagen Painters
and the special light for which Skagen
is so famous. The objective of the centre is to allow visitors to see, hear and understand more about sand, water, wind and light. Each of the pavilions presents one of these elements in a special atmosphere created by sound and light. There are special activities for children.
The centre is open from 11 am to 4 pm from 1 May until the third week in October.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
's Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, is a museum devoted to the effects of sand, water, wind and light. It was designed in 1989 by Jørn Utzon
Jørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon, , AC was a Danish architect, most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon became only the second person to have received such recognition for one of his works during his lifetime...
, the celebrated architect behind the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. Under the leadership of his son Jan
Jan Utzon
Jan Utzon is a Danish architect. The son of Jørn Utzon, with whom he worked closely on several prestigious projects, he has completed a number of fine works of his own including the Performing Arts Centre in Esbjerg.-Early life:...
, the centre was completed in 2000.
Location
The centre is located on Bølgevejen, some three kilometres north-east of the centre of SkagenSkagen
Skagen is a projection of land and a town, with a population of 8,515 , in Region Nordjylland on the northernmost tip of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark...
, itself 40 km north of Frederikshavn
Frederikshavn
This article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
. Apart from the nearby radar station, it is the northernmost building in the area, not far from the point where the Kattegat
Kattegat
The Kattegat , or Kattegatt is a sea area bounded by the Jutland peninsula and the Straits islands of Denmark on the west and south, and the provinces of Västergötland, Scania, Halland and Bohuslän in Sweden on the east. The Baltic Sea drains into the Kattegat through the Øresund and the Danish...
and the Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
meet. The surrounding area known as Grenen
Grenen
Grenen, the northmost tip of Jutland, north of the town of Skagen, thereby the northmost point of Denmark. Grenen was given its name for its shape like a tree-branch . The Danish national road 40 passes through Grenen....
, rich in bird life, offers interesting walks along its sandy beaches.
Architecture
As the centre is dedicated to the natural elements which were so fundamental to Utzon's work, it is hardly surprising that he was invited to be its architect. Utzon's idea was that the centre should grow out of nature as a response to the soul, reflecting silence, tranquillity and contemplation, so difficult to find in today's world.The "Desert Fortress", as it has been called, is enclosed by a brick wall, four metres high, which protects the 4,000 square metre activity area from the often stormy weather outside. The grey concrete buildings are topped with black roofing felt. A number of separate pavilions, each with a pyramidal roof and periscope-like skylight, document sand, water, wind and light. Between them are small courtyards, pools and walkways. The balcony on the café's upper floor provides views of the surrounding landscape, covered in ever growing amounts of sand. There is also an observation tower looking out over the dunes.
In Utzon's own words: "With its free-standing high walls with their powerful buttresses, the complex achieves the peace and simplicity that bring it into harmony with the grandeur of nature, the surf and the sky."
The museum
The fascinating natural effect of the peninsula inspired the creation of the Nature Centre. Two seas, the KattegatKattegat
The Kattegat , or Kattegatt is a sea area bounded by the Jutland peninsula and the Straits islands of Denmark on the west and south, and the provinces of Västergötland, Scania, Halland and Bohuslän in Sweden on the east. The Baltic Sea drains into the Kattegat through the Øresund and the Danish...
and the Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
meet at its tip. Then there is the Råbjerg Mile
Råbjerg Mile
Råbjerg Mile is a migrating coastal dune between Skagen and Frederikshavn, Denmark. It is the largest moving dune in Northern Europe with an area of around 1 km² and a height of 40 m . The dune contains a total of 4 million m³ of sand.The wind moves it in a north-easterly direction up to...
, a huge moving sand dune, Grenen
Grenen
Grenen, the northmost tip of Jutland, north of the town of Skagen, thereby the northmost point of Denmark. Grenen was given its name for its shape like a tree-branch . The Danish national road 40 passes through Grenen....
with its sandy beach celebrated by the Skagen Painters
Skagen Painters
The Skagen Painters were a group of Scandinavian artists who gathered in the area of Skagen, the northernmost part of Denmark, from the late 1870s until the turn of the century...
and the special light for which Skagen
Skagen
Skagen is a projection of land and a town, with a population of 8,515 , in Region Nordjylland on the northernmost tip of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark...
is so famous. The objective of the centre is to allow visitors to see, hear and understand more about sand, water, wind and light. Each of the pavilions presents one of these elements in a special atmosphere created by sound and light. There are special activities for children.
The centre is open from 11 am to 4 pm from 1 May until the third week in October.