Troldhede Path

A former railway line has been transformed into a recreational trail, The Troldhede Path, which connects Kolding with the old Dybvadbro Station, located 10 kilometres west of the city. In the varied and beautiful hilly landscape along the route, we have designed a wide range of recreational facilities.

The vision of the project was to create natural, inclusive meeting places and settings for outdoor life and activities, where everyone can gain access to nature. User surveys and workshops were a significant part of the project, carried out in close collaboration with the LAB for Social Inclusion & Continuing Education at the Design School in Kolding. The wishes and needs of future users have been integrated into the master plan solutions to create a platform for an equal meeting, where everyone has a “reason to go” and “to go further”.

The project’s master plan contains five layers, each working in its own way with inclusive meeting places which in interaction establish the Troldhede Path as a new active community. Examples of the five layers are:

Communication: The organisational virtual community, which is a communication platform where experiences and information can be shared by visitors.
Socio-economic value: Skovløberne, a socio-economic enterprise, is to manage bicycle rental, coffee sales, and the maintenance of the natural areas around the path.
Destination: Strengthening the coherence of the path and its overall identity.
Reuse: A number of the old stations and halts are revitalised into new attractive meeting places.
Nature focus: The journey through different landscapes is enhanced by emphasising the varied landscape characteristics along the path.

The task has been carried out in collaboration with Kolding Municipality and Collective Impact “Inclusiveness for All” – a programme under Realdania.

Photos: LYTT Architecture and Steffen Stamp