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Architects
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Location
Klitmøller, Denmark -
Engineer
Jelcon A/S -
Landscape
Preben Skaarup Landskabsarkitekter -
Client
The Municipality of Thisted in collaboration with The Real Dania Foundation -
Foundations
Real Dania, Bevica, Lokale og Anlægsfonden, Friluftsrådet -
Project Year
2012 -
Photographs
Text description provided by the architects. A rural area with potential
The new surf-culture house situated on the tip of Klitmøller’s magnificent coastline has been named “The Lobster House”. The name was given due to the building's former function as a repository for live lobsters before they were sold at auction. Today, there are no lobsters! Instead, there is space for the surf club, NASA. The clubhouse was designed by Force4 Architects, as an extension of the terrain, creating one fluid landscape. With this vision in mind, the roof not only functions as an important element in relation to the building's users but also as an attractive transition between landscape and building, culminating in a public viewing point for all visitors.
The new building has equal focus on indoor and outdoor spaces. The building forms a shield where the wind is strongest and is positioned to provide views out to sea. A wide staircase offers a grandstand and entertainment area for tourists and spectators alike. The materials are robust to best uphold against the challenging natural conditions presented by the sea and the wind: concrete, wood, copper and timber wharf.
Surfers from all over northern Europe have come to Klitmøller and christened the place "Cold Hawaii". As a consequence, the PWA Surf World Cup was held in Klitmøller in 2010 and 2011. The Lobster House is also part of a larger strategy to promote new developments in Denmark's outlying areas. By showcasing Klitmøller’s unique nature in a new way, surfers have breathed new life into the former fishing village, turning it into an attractive place to live and visit.
