A Natural Pavilion / ReVærk

Architects: ReVærk
Area: 45 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: ReVærk
Manufacturers: Dinesen, VELUX Group, DS Stålprofil, Diasen
Carpentry: Byggevirke og Datter
Design: Simeon Østerlund Bamford, Caroline Nørgård, Adam Marcel Nielsen
Construction Design: Jacob Bredahl, Mathias Nørgård Osmundsen
Funding: Realdania, The Velux Foundation
Engineer: Artelia
Rammed Earth: Én Jord
City: Copenhagen
Country: Denmark

“A Natural Pavilion,” designed by ReVærk, is part of the Danish Sustainable Development Goals pavilion series for the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen, showcasing ReVærk’s housing concept “NaturligRækkerne.” Funded by Realdania and Villum Fonden, this pavilion demonstrates sustainable, climate-conscious housing, centered on minimal carbon emissions and the use of natural materials like rammed earth, timber, and wood fiber insulation. With elements inspired by historic materials and methods, this project emphasizes the aesthetic and technical potential of environmentally friendly materials, advocating for sustainable design’s role in modern Danish architecture.

“A Natural Pavilion” represents ReVærk’s townhouse concept, “NaturligRækkerne,” developed under the “4to1 planet” project funded by the Realdania and Villum Fonden foundations. This pavilion forms part of the Sustainable Development Goals series of pavilions, an initiative by the Danish Association of Architects and the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023, in collaboration with the Copenhagen Municipality and City & Harbour.

The “NaturligRækkerne” townhouse concept behind the pavilion embodies ReVærk’s vision for future dwellings that prioritize environmental sustainability and indoor climate health. Rooted in the townhouse typology, the project leverages this widely adaptable housing style to advance radical sustainability and the use of natural materials, addressing both large-scale housing needs and eco-friendly design.

Focusing on reducing carbon emissions, the “NaturligRækkerne” townhouses utilize a few essential materials: rammed earth for separating walls, internal loadbearing timber frames, and external biogenic insulation cassettes. This simple, high-performance material palette not only meets technical requirements but also enhances the architectural aesthetics.

With “A Natural Pavilion,” the architects aimed to demonstrate that fundamental materials like rammed earth, wood fiber insulation, and round timber—often seen as unconventional for modern homes—can offer refined, high-sensory value. The project illustrates how reviving historic materials and craftsmanship can be integral to developing sustainable architecture for the future.

This realization is crucial, as materials and methods play a decisive role in advancing sustainable architecture; however, Danish architecture still lacks examples that fully demonstrate this potential. In executing “A Natural Pavilion,” the team used wood fiber boards for insulation cassettes, local soil for rammed earth walls, and unsorted Dinesen wood for floors, walls, beams, and rafters, highlighting a comprehensive use of sustainable, locally sourced materials.