Under the heading “The gardens of the city – Sanctuaries and Communities” (Byens Haver – Fristeder og Fællesskaber), MASU Planning has been announced the winner of the Roskilde Municipality’s competition Roskilde Sydvest, teaming up with Cornelius Vöge – Atelier for Arkitektur, Gründl Haahr Architects and JL Engineering A/S.

The competition for the development of Roskilde Sydvest includes more than 30.000 square meters of parkland and comprises the residential area of Æblehaven / Rønnebærparken, the largest vulnerable residential area in Roskilde. Therefore, Roskilde Municipality wants to develop this area, so its transformation and revelation of its hidden qualities benefit current residents, newcomers, and visitors.

Byens Haver transforms Roskilde Sydvest into a unified, open, and safe district with its own identity. Through our proposal, the neighborhood opens towards its surroundings and offers the citizens of Roskilde direct and eventful access to Hyrdehøjskoven and the Roskilde green ring.

We have been working with Cornelius Vöge – Atelier for Arkitektur, with whom we have done several collaborations that have turned into successful projects such as HC Andersen House of Fairytales, Jyllinge recreational square, or the Gundsømagle Parish Hall Courtyard, and with the young architecture studio Gründl Haahr Architects.

Byens Haver reinterprets the leisure and garden area as a recreational space in the city. It is a green sanctuary that invites people to meet and do recreational activities, stay, walk, or ride a bike. The garden story sets a new tone, promoting the generation and development of new activities that allow larger and smaller new communities to grow across the area’s residents, institutions and associations.

The path systems through Byens Haver form a new connection between all public functions in the district and Hyrdehøj forest. This urban integration can be further strengthened by establishing a two-way cycle and walking path, inspired by the Musicon path, from Hyrdehøj lining Byens Haver to Stændertorvet via Roskilde Hallerne, Rådmandhaven, Slagterigrunden, Allehelgensgade.

Lynghøjskoven and the city’s gardens
The blue and the green activities

A new nature park
Soft infrastructure