climbing

Wonder Wednesday

KannikLeave a comment

When I visited the Amager Bakke, the power plant + ski hill (no, really!) in Copenhagen, besides the ski slope not being open yet (we unfortunately visited just a scant month or so before completion), there was this other odd thing they were adding to the side of the building.  I didn’t realize what it was at the time, but turns out it’s a giant climbing wall.  And I do mean giant.  The building is tall enough for a ski slope… so this thing is 85 meters (280 feet) tall!  It’s so tall it’s a 4 pitch lead/sport climb only, and requires a multi-pitch certification just to climb it’s 4 lanes (8 routes total).  Amazing.

Check out more, including route topos, videos, and more at https://www.dbkk.dk/amagernordvaeg/vaeggen and https://www.copenhill.dk/en/aktiviteter/klatring

Architecture Monday

KannikLeave a comment

Ok, I’m pre-inclined to like this building.  While it’s a mountaineering centre, with what seems to be some museum functions too, my main inclination comes from its main tall spike:  it’s a climbing gym.

Plenty to like here… sculptural design that fits its function within, with a skin pattern that reminds of the nearby mountains, and with a number of lovely little spatial vignettes inside.  The only boo for me is the climbing wall itself – it seems a bit plain to my eyes.

Overall, this is one cool building.  Nice work.

The Norwegian Mountaineering Centre by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter.