Nature Østbirk

At the far end of Campus Østbirk lies the new nature area, Nature Østbirk.

Within a 30-year-old forest, hiking trails and architect-de- signed nature attractions, viewpoints, and rest areas have been established. Old ponds have been excavated, and veg- etation has been cleared, were necessary, to create access, views and light.

The area was previously overgrown and almost inaccessible, but by improving accessibility, employees, residents, and tourists can now hike in the area and enjoy the natural surround- ings, holding meetings, and gathering for social events. School children can investigate the shallow pond for insects and amphibians. The nature attractions are established to take a rest, enjoy the view and reflect. The nature attractions are designed to be used for training and exercise by VELUX Employees and local residents.

More than a hundred people can be gathered around the large stone setting called the Moon Circle, with a diameter of 30 meters. If you look carefully you will see the corners of the world marked in the stones.

Colleagues from various departments at VELUX in Østbirk have collaborated with the architects DET BLÅ to transform the area. Materials, wood and stone, for the architect-de- signed nature attractions were harvested locally, and local craftsmen have helped bring the architects’ ideas to life. In connection with the transformation of the area, attention has also been paid to how biodiversity in the area can be pro- moted in the future. As an experiment, trees with genes from Caspian forests have also been planted, as they are believed to be particularly resistant to climate change.

A group of residents has followed the project’s development and helped communicate the area’s history and new poten- tial to the town’s residents, the school, the sports association, the church, and others. The regional tourist organization
has included Nature Østbirk on its list of regional nature experiences and the local citizens’ association in Østbirk has showcased the area in a film. As a result, the area has also been promoted to a broader public.

A rise in the grass marks the contours of an Iron Age house. There are indeed registered prehistoric remains in the form of an Iron Age village with up to twenty-five houses in the area and beneath the future LKR Innovation House. Nature Østbirk is thus situated in an area where people have roamed for thousands of years, and the intention with the nature area has also been to bring people closer to nature.

In the future, Nature Østbirk will be part of the green areas around the LKR Innovation House, thereby contributing to a green framework for the new product development site at VELUX and serving as an invitation to the outside world to come closer to nature, daylight, and fresh air.

Project name: Nature Østbirk
Country, location: Denmark, Østbirk
Applicant: Project group SØHØJLANDET
VKR Group company: VELUX A/S and A/S Østbirk Bygningsindustri
Inauguration day: 7 May 2024