2020_Martine Seedorff_Common Ground at the Danish/German Border Landscape_Category A
In Danish we have a unique word for spaces on borders, grænserum, which best can be translated as common ground. ‘Borders’ are often understood as something that separates like a country- , municipal-, economical-, political- or cultural border and the word ‘space’ is often understood as something which assemble or connect like a livingroom or hall. Borderes therefore have a potential when we consider the meaning of the Danish word ‘grænserum’ as a potential space for new assemblies or connections, if mutual disputes, differences, potentials and needs across the border is understood.
Border landscapes are often fragile. COVID-19 and the wild boar fence between Denmark and Germany are just two of many examples. Martine Seedorff’s graduation project ‘Common Ground at the Danish / German Border Landscape’ from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture, Design and Conservation in 2019 aim to highlight the qualities of the landscape and suggest a strategy for grænserum.
The border landscape is characterised by the diverse landscape shaped by the Ice Age from the flat land in the West to the hilly landscape in the East. The strategy is developed as a map in 1:40.000 in which qualities of the landscape is highlighted and a detailed design proposal in 1:2000 and 1:50 of how the border landscape could be experienced at Dybbøl Banke. The design proposals are spaces from which it is possible to experience the landscape and the design is based on the local construction material, bricks.
