EFFEKT and MAST have just unveiled SØMÆRKET, a new access point to the Lillebælt Nature Park in Denmark. As a gateway to one of Denmark’s most protected coastal landscapes, the Little Belt Strait, the design is intended to strengthen connections between the towns of Middlefart, Holding and Fredericia. Known for the world’s highest population of porpoises and a rich diversity of flora and fauna, the Little Belt Strait is a popular destination for divers from across Europe.
SØMÆRKET is inspired by historical seamarks, in particular the ornate wooden structures that served as navigational aids along the Danish coast in the late 19th century. This platform celebrates Danish maritime history while introducing a new typology of floating educational spaces that serve as a symbol of the national park. The platform, which will be tugboated between three locations along the Little Belt, will provide a comprehensive experience for school classes, tourists and the public. In addition, it will provide new access points for kayaking, swimming, diving and fishing, and allow visitors to immerse themselves in the natural and historical history of the strait.
The Lillebælt Nature Park, which connects continental Jutland and the island of Funen, offers a unique natural landscape and history. SØMÆRKET aims to tell this story through fossils, illustrations and text integrated into the structure. There is also an enclosed laboratory space for experiments and storytelling. Below deck, an underwater room projects footage of the marine world onto raw concrete walls. The platform also offers direct access to the strait through features such as a kayak dock, a swimming platform and an integrated seaweed and mussel farm.
Related article
EFFEKT wins competition to redesign the headquarters of a German newspaper
The design connects future generations with the marine environment and serves as a floating landmark in the natural park. Its pyramid-shaped structure rises 7 metres above the water and serves as a visible beacon from the ports. The main deck, approximately 1.3 metres above sea level, is accessed via a small bridge, ensuring ground-level access from the quay.
The platform is made of sturdy, locally sourced Douglas fir beams on a reclaimed concrete barge that has had multiple uses over the past 20 years, including as a floating housing base and a temporary pavilion for the UIA Architecture Festival. This barge, rescued from demolition, forms the foundation of SØMÆRKET.
SØMÆRKET was created by EFFEKT in collaboration with MAST, a maritime architecture studio specializing in floating buildings and coastal development. The design was the winning entry in a competition initiated by the municipalities of Middelfart, Kolding and Fredericia. Construction is scheduled to start this summer, and the platform is expected to be operational in 2025.
In other related news, 3XN GXN recently won the contract to design a new coastal nature and sport fishing center in Assens, Denmark. Likewise, Snøhetta and WERK Arkitekter recently developed the new maritime center on the coast of Esbjerg, Denmark, which is now open to the public. Finally, Henning Larsen Architects has just won the competition to design a new university campus building in Toshvan, Faroe Islands.
