TRIFOLD

Kangerlussuaq has the largest international airport in Greenland and is a hub for travel both within Greenland as well as to and from Greenland. It is also a destination in its own right. Increasing tourism is one of the aspects supporting economic growth and the subsequent strengthening of Greenlandic independence. The intention of this studio was to create architectural interventions that would be situated in relation to three characteristic types of landscapes and relate to tourists, scientists and local inhabitants for all of whom there is a growing demand for new and improved facilities in Kangerlussuaq.

The town of Kangerlussuaq is situated on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage site that stretches between the major entities of the sea and the Ice cap. With the recent announcement of the UNESCO protected area, an increase in tourism is expected. The Arctic Trail is the only trail that currently gives access to the UNESCO site. The Arctic Trail is connecting the Ice Cap east of Kangerlussuaq all the way to the coast of the North Atlantic sea at the town of Sisimiut. The trail is approx. 160 km long and takes 7-12 days to complete. Today there are small lodges for trekkers dotted along the route and the trail is used all year round.

The aim of the studio was to facilitate and strengthen this world-renowned trail by working with three “camps” along the route. Each “camp” consisted of lodges/accommodation and a common house that can be used for both trekkers travelling The Arctic Trail as well as tourists, scientist and locals that wish to stay in Kangerlussuaq and explore and study the different areas in an around the town. The “camps” are thus linked to a specific type of landscape as well as the large scale of the Arctic Trail. Four students were assigned to each “camp” and each student was tasked with designing the lodge or the common house. However, in some cases, the site dictated that the student design both.

I was assigned to the Russell Glacier Camp, characterized by a large expanse of open land situated directly across from a glacier wall. The students in this group ultimately designed buildings that accommodated both programs.

The focus of the Russell Glacier site was on scientific research surrounding the icecaps and geology. There were to be zones for a small library, exhibition, & studies, lectures, food preparation/eating, laundry and bathing facilities, general storage, and areas for sleeping, working, and communal living.

Research | Vernacular Architecture

Design

Design Development | Study Models

Final Design