Odense Knowledge and Research Park

Location: Odense, DK
Client: Freja Ejendomme, Municipality of Odense
Team: Stig L. Andersson, Sofie Kjærsgaard Jørgensen, Katrine Sandstrøm, Simon Sjøkvist, Klara Wallby, Rikke Liv Petersen
Collaborators: Arkitektfirmaet C.F. Møller, Alectia
Design phase: 2009
Area: 37 ha.

A city with many different functions and physical points of intersection provides the best possibilities for the sharing of knowledge, for creating new contacts, and for being inspired and to learn.

Odense Knowledge and Research Park on the Danish island of Funen contains exactly these qualities. This is where region, city and university meet in a framework for the urban life of the knowledge society.

By situating the entire built-up area to the east, the best possible contact with the infrastructure is secured; an important aspect of making the area more sustainable. There is also a close connection with the University of Southern Denmark Odense, the Killerup village and the Rosengårdscenteret shopping centre as well as to the recreational sports areas and golf courses.

The western part of the landscape along the protected wood is kept free of buildings. This area has magnificent views of the Funen landscape with the fringe of the wood and untouched trees.

Different and striking urban structures of an almost iconic value are found in the surrounding city. Killerup village has a unique structure of old farms dispersed in a small cluster. The university has an additive, north-south centred wing structure. The new urban area, the knowledge town, has a dense structure, with twisted building areas, which created many intersections, varied urban spaces and a sharp edge towards the landscape.

The new structure will be physically dense and varied. The many special crossing points, paths, short cuts and urban spaces differ in size, shape and character. This all contributes to making strangers meet, talk and discover each others competences.