A future built on tradition - The Wadden Sea Centre opens its doors

The Wadden Sea Centre gives the impression of a building that has emerged from the ground, drawing a soft, long and clear profile against the Wadden Sea’s infinite horizon. With a thatched roof and facades, the Wadden Sea Centre provides the area’s many visitors with a humble yet significant starting point for their visit.

The Wadden Sea Centre - a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea Site - conveys the story of one of the world’s unique and significant natural resorts and, among other things, ensures that 15 million migratory birds are able to forage on their flight between North and South.

From the beginning, the project has been influenced by the local building traditions and culture, in utilising a four-winged thatched farmhouse typology. The building materials used are all local and absorb the salt in the Wadden Sea air – as is historically the tradition for buildings of the region.

“The straw we have used is harvested just around the corner in a local area. With thatching, we built on an ancient handicraft. When straw is unprocessed and recently harvested, dried and tied in place - it’s a very beautiful material", says Dorte Mandrup.

"The basic idea of the architecture is a new sculptural interpretation of the existing building culture of the region. It has been our ambition to build a project that points towards the future and has its roots in local building tradition and history. In this way, we bring the Wadden Sea Centre into the 21st century."