A Climate Responsive Material Practice

Reed reimagined for resilience.

In Hesnæs on Falster, reed have been used for generations to protect houses from wind and moisture from the Baltic Sea. A Climate Responsive Material Practice revisits this local building tradition and develops it into three concrete architectural interventions. On an existing brick house, the facade is given a thicker layer of reed that protects against the wind while also creating an inhabitable facade with seating. At the harbor, two new structures made of reed and timber provide shelter and spaces for changing, kayak storage, and seating near the local café. The thickness of the reed layers varies according to each structure’s location and the wind conditions it needs to withstand.

The storm surge of October 2023 destroyed Hesnæs Harbour and damaged several houses. The project responds to this specific climate threat by adapting Hesnæs’ historic tradition of protecting facades with reed to new needs. The reed cladding thus takes on a new role as a climate adaptation strategy, while the new harbour structures create space for gathering, activity, and social life. The project shows how a local building technique can gain new relevance in response to today’s climate challenges.