
Espergærde
Housing near Kelleris Hegn
How do you create the conditions for a strong community? And how do you integrate a new housing area into a scenic hilly landscape – without compromising the qualities of the area?
- Location
- Espergærde
- Year
- 2016
- Developer
- Projektselskabet Kelleris
- Size
- 52.000 m² – 450 homes
- Role
- Architect consultant | Master Plan
- Collaborators
- Niras | BOGL


In harmony with the surrounding nature
The area around Kelleris has many scenic qualities: A dramatic and hilly terrain with large beautiful trees, meadows, dikes, and marshes.
“The idea from the beginning has been that the new development should submit to nature, not the other way around. Therefore, we have worked to create a series of bio-corridors that connect the area’s nature – and ensure that nature is always present,” says Karl-Martin Buch Frederiksen, Sweco Architects.
The vision for the development is a series of “clustered courtyards”, a particular Norwegian typology that is based on the community between people and nature. The courtyards are designed as smaller residential clusters, which organize themselves around a district square in such a way that nature is present and visible no matter where in the cluster you choose to position yourself. At the same time, the idea is that the organization of the housing in the courtyards will stage a strong social community among the people who choose to live here.

Appreciation of the natural environment
“We have spent a long time ‘reading the area’ trying to create a development that fits gently into the hilly landscape. Homes designed for the location and with respect for the natural area right here,” says Karl-Martin Buch Frederiksen.”
The homes near Kelleris Hegn are developed by ‘Projektselskabet Kelleris’ and are currently undergoing local planning, stakeholder dialogue, and regulatory project review.


