The colourful circle in Jutland

The Innovest complex rises dramatically above the flat countryside of west Jutland like an enormous circular sculpture in shades of red, orange and yellow. The building is inspired by the nearby heathland, the river Skjern Å and the flourishing business community in the area.

Its soft organic form unfolds into a building on four levels, while a full height atrium welcomes visitors and gives a good impression of its character.

The building is home to entrepreneurs, businesses, the University Extension and facilities such as meeting rooms, an auditorium and a canteen. In addition to offices, the utility company Ringkøbing-Skjern Forsyning A/S (which supplies water, wastewater, street lighting and bioenergy) also has warehousing and stores for equipment. The aim of having such a wide range of functions is to create synergies between the various occupants.

It’s interesting to discover how in many ways the natural environment has been incorporated into the design, influencing the building’s sustainability, shape and what it contains. For example, parts of the roof are planted with locally growing flora while the atrium features a water-pool as well as a stunning plant wall which rises up alongside the main stairway. Bamboo has also been used for the stairs and vertical wood strips on the walls around the building, which is currently being certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

Troldtekt, which is manufactured in Troldhede, not far from Innovest in Skjern, has been used on all the ceilings. For example, in the central part of the curved office areas, black Troldtekt has been juxtaposed with white to create a striking contrast.

For Peter Refsgaard Iversen, an architect at Aarstiderne Arkitekter, it was important that the indoor environment be characterised by tactile materials such as this. The curved corridors are characterised by a dynamic sense of space, while the wood strips, glass walls, concrete floors and Troldtekt ceilings combine to create a stunning and harmonious look.