The Five Halds Wins the Danish Landscape Award 2025

Erik Brandt Dam Architects and Charlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects receive the Danish Landscape Award 2025 for The Five Halds in Viborg. The award is presented by The Danish Association of Danish Architectural Firms, Park and Nature Managers Denmark, and The Association of Danish Landscape Architects.

A landscape interpretation project that connects cultural landscapes, architectural traces, and material narratives around one of Denmark’s largest castle complexes is the winner of the Danish Landscape Award 2025. The Five Halds consists of a series of architectural and landscape elements that tie together physical remnants of historic structures, guiding visitors through 800 years of Danish history.

The Five Halds by Erik Brandt Dam Architects and Charlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects was announced winner at an award ceremony in the Valencia building in Copenhagen. Torben Sangild, journalist at Zetland, radio host, and cultural researcher, hosted the evening, where the two other finalists, Operaparken by COBE and Søborg Hovedgade by BOGL, also were presented.

A Landscape Project with a High level of Craftsmanship

This year marks the 12th time that the Danish Association of Danish Architectural Firms, Park and Nature Managers Denmark, and the Association of Danish Landscape Architects present the Danish Landscape Award. The jury consists of one representative from each of the three organizations as well as two independent members.

Sune Oslev, landscape architect MDL/MAA and partner at MASU Planning, represents the Danish Association of Danish Architectural Firms and is spokesperson for the jury.

He explains: “The three finalists for this year’s Danish Landscape Award emphasise that Danish landscape architecture is stronger and more relevant than ever. All three finalists are of extremely high quality and deserve recognition. Nonetheless, the jury has unanimously chosen The Five Halds as the worthy winner of the Danish Landscape Award 2025, and we offer our warm congratulations to Erik Brandt Dam Architects and Charlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects for the very well-deserved honour.”

A Masterpiece in Danish Landscape Architecture

The jury’s motivation states, among other things: “The Five Halds is a masterpiece in Danish landscape architecture. It is landscape art in its most admirable form; it appears obvious and natural, as if it had always been there. The project is integrated into the landscape with a discreet and balanced approach, where interpretation and function go hand in hand. The architectural approach is characterized by an admirable aesthetic sense and meticulous attention to detail, reflecting a deep understanding of the landscape’s scale and its unique character and identity –  genius loci. The Five Halds is a work where proportions and precision are so finely tuned that, as a professional, one can only smile. Nothing is superfluous and yet everything is present. It is a place for play, togetherness, contemplation –  and for feeling the rush of history in a contemporary landscape.”

Previous winners of the Danish Landscape Award include H.C. Andersen’s Garden (2023), Remiseparken (2021), Christiansborg Area Security (2019), Forecourt of Nordvest Culture House(2017), Novo Nordisk Nature Park (2015), Tagparadiset (2014), Haveselskabets Have (2013), Hjerting Strandpark (2012), Billedhuggerhaven (2011), The Måløv Axis (2010), and Across Lake and Land – Taarup Davinde (2009).

FACT BOX — DANISH LANDSCAPE AWARD 2025

The Danish Landscape Award is presented by The Danish Association of Danish Architectural Firms, Park and Nature Managers Denmark, and The Association of Danish Landscape Architects, who also serve as secretariat for the award.

This year marks the 12th time the Danish Landscape Award is presented. The aim is to honour landscape architectural works of exceptional character that serve as inspiration for the development of the landscape architectural profession.

This year’s winner and finalists are:

WINNER: The Five Halds// Landscape architects and architect: Erik Brandt Dam Architects and Charlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects.

Partners: Consultants: Professor Martin Zerlang and Cornelius + Vöge. Engineer: Artelia. Main contractors: Danjord A/S, Monstrum A/S, and Ginnerup A/S. Client: The Danish Nature Agency. Contributions from: Viborg Kommune, Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen, Viborg Museum og Foreningen De fem Halder. Financial donation: The A.P. Møller Foundation.

FINALIST: Operaparken// Architect and landscape architect: COBE.

Engineers: Vita, Via Trafik, DBI, Lüchninger Meyer Hermansen. Contractors: Hansson and Knudsen, Bauer, Redtz Glas og Façade, HSM Industri, GK Denmark, Bravida Denmark, Høyrup & Clemmesen, KONE, Phønix Tag, Jakon, Areo, Terrazzo.dk, Raadvad Maleren, Snedkerierne, OKNygaard, Palmproject Europe, Scanview Systems, Zurface, Retail Reflexions, and Vector Foiltech. Landscape gardeners: OKNygaard, Palmproject Europe, and Jysk Planteservice. Client: The Opera Park Foundation. Financial donation: The A.P. Møller Foundation.

FINALIST: Søborg Hovedgade // Landscape architect: BOGL. Engineer: Systra (formerly Atkins). Contractor: Hoffmann. Client: Gladsaxe Municipality.

The Jury for the Danish Landscape Award 2025:

• Sune Oslev, landscape architect MDL/MAA, partner and owner of MASU Planning, representative for The Danish Association of Danish Architectural Firms (Spokesperson)

• Jakob Sandell Sørensen, landscape architect MDL/MAA, owner of Sandell Sustainability, representative for The Association of Danish Landscape Architects

• Steen Himmer, landscape architect MPN, Cemetery Director of Holmens and Garnisons Cemeteries, representative for The Park and Nature Managers Denmark. 

• Torben Sangild, PhD and MA in Modern Culture and Cultural Communication, journalist at Zetland, radio host, and cultural researcher

• Marie Louise Helveg Bøgh, mag.art., Director of Sorø Art Museum

IMAGE CAPTIONS

DL 2025 01: The Five Halds byCharlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects and og Erik Brandt Dam Architectswins the Danish Landscape Award 2025. Photo credit: Astrid Maria Busse Rasmussen.

DL 2025 02: The finalists for the Danish Landscape Award 2025: Jens Linnet og Marie Furbo (BOGL), Maj Wive (Cobe) og Charlotte Skibsted og Erik Brandt Dam (Charlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects and og Erik Brandt Dam Architects).Photo credit: Astrid Maria Busse Rasmussen.

DL 2025 03 – 08: The Five Halds by Erik Brandt Dam Architects and Charlotte Skibsted Landscape Architects wins the Danish Landscape Award 2025. Photo credit: Jens Lindhe.

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