The need for a future-proof waterworks

Envafors / SK Forsyning needed a new, large waterworks in Slagelse that could accommodate a complex water treatment process with high demands for operation, maintenance and future capacity expansion. The task was to combine technical and logistical requirements with an architectural and landscape solution that would blend naturally into the surrounding scenic area.

Technology and experience need not be mutually exclusive

A waterworks building is traditionally driven solely by technical requirements, but we saw potential in letting the building's functional division become an architectural device in itself. Separate, cubic volumes create a building that is easy to read from the outside, while opening up towards the Fodsporet nature trail so that the water treatment becomes visible and engaging for passers-by.

Function-based architecture in harmony with the landscape

PLH provided architectural and landscape architecture services, sustainability management and interdisciplinary coordination on the project. The cubic building is optimized for the needs of the technical facility, with a column-free, flexible filter hall and a glass façade that offers a view into the process. The outdoor areas feature gravel paths, a SuDS detention basin and native planting with high biodiversity, while close collaboration with the process engineers has ensured an operator-friendly solution in which both small and large components can easily be dismantled and replaced.