Feasibility study unfolds the unique potential of Klostermølle

At the foot of the rolling hills of the Danish lake district, where the Gudenå River flows into the longest lake in Denmark, lies Klostermølle.

For centuries, the landscape around Klostermølle has been shaped by the interplay between nature and culture. The defining factor has been the 1,300-metre-long Klosterkanal, an artificial rerouting of the Gudenå River, established by the monks of Voer Monastery in the 12th century. From the operation of a grain mill in the Middle Ages to driving turbines during the early industrialization of Denmark, and powering a cardboard factory up until the 1970’s, this artificial tributary has been the driving force of shaping the distinctive natural and cultural landscape of Klostermølle.

Today, Klostermølle consists of several listed buildings, mostly remnants of the factory, set within a protected natural environment. With its central location in the heart of one of Denmarks most pristine natural areas, the area holds significant, yet still unrealised potential, as a center for exploration of both nature and cultural history.

This potential was the baseline for an extensive feasibility study developed by SHL, NIRAS, and Bendt Nielsen’s Tegnestue for the association Klostermølles Venner. The project investigates how the area can be revitalised and transformed into a centre for learning and exploring nature and cultural history, as well as a hub for the local community. The feasibility study takes this unique relationship between nature and culture as its point of departure, outlining how the site’s protected buildings can be activated through careful transformation and the introduction of new public functions and facilities.

At the heart of the study stands the nearly 100-metre-long drying barn – a remarkable piece of industrial architecture, which is in essence an enormous machine powered by wind and shaped by the surrounding landscape. The study proposes opening the building to the public, creating new opportunities for exhibitions, art installations, and the communication of Klostermølle’s history. At the same time, the removal of later additions is proposed in order to reinforce the experience of the drying barn’s original character and impressive geometry.

The ambition is to create a more cohesive experience of Klostermølle and strengthen the connections between the buildings, the landscape, and the public spaces. A central objective is to preserve and further develop Klostermølle as an open and publicly accessible natural and cultural environment, with a focus on storytelling and new opportunities for recreation, community, and year-round activities.