Mindelunden – ringsted
CUSTOMER Ringsted Municipality
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Stausholm Landscape
YEAR 2025
STATUS For consultation
The memorial grove in Ringsted is a beautiful and peaceful breathing space in the center of Ringsted, which has many qualities. It is also a historical site that pays tribute to the past. The facility has well-functioning elements, but at the same time needs a boost that could increase the use of the facility.
When Mindelunden was built, the traffic intensity and surrounding parking areas and storefronts were not as dominant as today. The assignment has therefore focused on how Mindelunden can be revitalized by adding a new main approach and by shielding the facility from the surrounding technical facilities.
main concept
The memorial grove has evolved over time, from its establishment in 1946 to the present day. Over the decades, the area has been subject to increasing urbanization and traffic pressure, which has challenged its original tranquility and boundaries.
With inspiration from C. Th. Sørensen’s other works and a respectful approach to the site’s original design, a plan for revitalization has now been drawn up.
The plan seeks to strengthen the function of the Memorial Grove as a recreational and historical space through new pathways, planting and material choices that both promote biodiversity and create a more welcoming and sheltered atmosphere.
The main elements of the site – the memorial stone, oak trees with underplanting of snowberries, the foot fence and the lawn – are preserved.
A new layer is added – a winding pathway as a new historical dimension that reflects our time in form and expression. The path ties the entire complex together in a new way, and the winding path between the oak trees opens up an extra experience that has not existed before.
The spatiality is enhanced with new planting that creates an orientation towards the center and thus the memorial stone. The stone is further emphasized with a granite paving that spans the width of the area and the stone will be easier to access when the retaining wall is removed, while at the same time making the lawn more usable for recreation.
The current sidewalk next to Søgade will have a new dynamic expression and create access to the area via both paths and lawn, while the benches will encourage people to explore the area. The design of the sidewalk and its relation to the surroundings contribute to making the area feel safe to walk and spend time in.
With the main concept, Mindelunden will get an increased topicality, functionality and aesthetic upgrade with a focus on safety, tranquility and biodiversity, set in a historical context.
PLANTING
As much of the existing vegetation as possible is retained based on an assessment of biodiversity value. The existing snowberry bushes are supplemented with new ones to create a more organic and coherent expression in line with the design language of the site. Beds not included in the original plan will be replaced with new biodiversity-friendly planting consisting of native perennials and grasses to provide a more varied and natural look all year round. An evergreen element will be added in the form of a screening hedge towards the parking lot and a few yew trees planted between the existing oak trees. In the northern part of the site, three yew trees are planted to form a green spine towards the road and create a calm background for the memorial stone and the new square. A few trees will be cut down to provide more air and light around the memorial stone.
At the entrance from Lyngbygade, a new street tree is planted to create a distinctive and welcoming arrival point to Mindelunden.
Laying
The choice of materials is based on Ringsted Municipality’s material bank to ensure recycling and sustainability.
The existing frame of the memorial plaque is supplemented with a new, expanded field of cobblestones in front of the plaque. The field follows the original frame and creates a clearer and more harmonious framing of the stone. The existing cobblestones are reused as much as possible.
future operation
The renovation of the memorial grove brings a significant change in daily operations. Where hours were previously spent weeding plantings characterized by bare patches of weeds, more coherent and robust plant surfaces are now being created. The existing snowberry bushes are supplemented and sealed, and new beds with native perennials and grasses are established with a focus on coverage and low maintenance. This reduces the need for manual weeding and frees up time for more skilled maintenance tasks such as pruning, promoting biodiversity and maintaining paths and recreational areas. Overall, the renovation creates a more reliable and resource-efficient solution.