STED and LE BUREAU win the competition to design wayfinding and outdoor facilities along Hærvejen with the project On the trail of Denmark's history.

The vision of the project is to tie the entire Hærvejen together into one coherent destination while supporting the narrative, distinctiveness and variation of each region. Because Hærvejen embraces our shared history of Denmark, wayfinding and the expression of the facilities are developed based on Hærvejen's historical layers and place identity.

"It is a huge honour to be allowed to work with such a special piece of natural and cultural history as Hærvejen. With this project, we want to create a solution where both wayfinding and new facilities become a carefully integrated part of Hærvejen. Comfort and quality are increased without compromising the "authentic" Hærvejen experience, so you can enjoy the trip to the fullest and get lost without getting lost," says Rosa Lund, Head of Urban Planning at STED - part of Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects.

Mikkel von Seelen, Head of Secretariat Development Hærvejen says:
"We are excited to start working with Sted and Le Bureau on the development of wayfinding and physical components along Hærvejen's hiking and cycling routes. Sted and Le Bureau's innovative approach and their understanding of creating intuitive and inviting spaces is what we need to enhance the experience for our visitors. Their work will not only guide walkers and cyclists through the scenic landscapes of Hærvejen, but also help to tell the rich history and culture of the area. This initiative is an important step in our ongoing endeavour to make Hærvejen an even more engaging and accessible destination for everyone. We look forward to the many ways in which Sted and Le Bureau will help us bring the unique history of Hærvejen to life for our visitors."

From ice age to modern hiker

Hærvejen covers a wide variety of natural landscapes - from the high plains of the Ice Age landscape, farmland with fields, heaths, meadows and hilly ridges to the roaring coasts of the North Sea. At the same time, the route is a walk through the history of Denmark from the Ice Age to the present day, where animals and humans have left their mark over the centuries. Traces that are buried or have emerged in the form of nature, writings and petrification. The project will emphasise these traces with wayfinding and dissemination of traces and local stories from both the past and the present.

The project will be an interdisciplinary collaboration between landscape architects, architects and designers and will offer facilities in sustainable modular design that support the narrative of Hærvejen with a clear identity throughout.

The project is developed in close dialogue with users and stakeholders along Hærvejen and in collaboration with Advice, who won the digital/graphic competition, also organised by Udvikling hærvejen.

Facts about Hærvejen

• Hærvejen is a 638 km hiking route and 454 km cycling route
• The cycle route was established in 1989 and is known as national cycle route no. 3
• The hiking route was established in 1992 from Viborg and southwards and in 2014 north of Viborg.
• 100 km of the Hærvejen hiking route and 40 km of the cycling route run on the Danish Nature Agency's land.
• The routes run through 3 regions, 15 municipalities and 7 destination companies.
• Hærvejen is part of the pilgrimage route between Trondheim in Norway and Santiago de Compostela in Spain.