Glifberg behind The World’s Longest Skatepark
INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK: In this outlook series we turn the spotlight on international projects from around the world. Big & small — but all pretty epic and unique. Because we figured… being a skateboarder, you probably dream about travelling the world one day - with a board and some friends — and we’re all about fuelling that dream and adding to your bucket list!
First international project up is from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Photo from the Opening of the World’s longest skatepark by Kristina Møller from @RundtiDanmark
Imagine cruising and carving along a ditch which just never ends. Not an old rough ditch where you stack it time and time again, but a smooth as butter, freshly laid concrete ditch designed for skating.
Sounds pretty good, hey? In Copenhagen, Denmark this is now reality.
When architecture & Skateboarding meets
Late last year the world’s longest skateable ditch opened in the suburb of Hoje Taastrup, just outside of Copehagen. It is an impressive 1 kilometer long, hand concreted park and is designed by no other than O.G. skater, X-game legend and Olympian Rune Glifberg (with his company Glifberg + Lykke) in collaboration with COBE, a progressive urban architect company.
Along the 1000 m. stretch, you’ll find bowls and ledges, green spaces and playgrounds. In a post on his Insta, Rune Glifberg himself actually describes it as way more than a skatepark: “The worlds longest skatepark is not a skatepark, but rather an elongated public space for all living things to enjoy.”
“This is potentially one of the most exciting projects in skate- and architectural history. We are extremely honoured to be included in such an important project, that could change the way we implement skateboarding into urban spaces, all over the world in the future” the duo states on their website.
“We hope that there might be a guy in Australia, Japan or the US thinking that this is way epic and that that person just needs to go to Denmark to try this. This is a unique space we’re creating, that you can’t find anywhere else”
The opening
On the opening day in 31. October 2021 Rune opened the park and put on a show for the local crowd.
All photos by Kristina Møller from @RundtiDanmark (check out her work).
[The article continues below the photos]
This untraditional skatepark is part of a bigger urban development project that connects housing, shops, offices and a city council. Slabzoo hit up the architects to understand why skateboarding was even on their radar when designing the plan for the whole suburb.
Just imagine if suburban housing developments in Australia incorporated green and skateable spaces like that and worked with skateboarding companies to design it.
Climate adaption and community safety
It turns out the ditch actually also functions as a… well, a ditch. In case of torrential rain it will lead away the excessive rainfall.
“While working with Høje Taastrup City Council we have worked with climate adaption, urban spaces and active lifestyle in an integrated solution. The skatepark is actually a ditch that collects rainwater to avoid flooding. At all other times it will be the world’s longest skateable ditch,” the COBE architects explain.
Climate adaption in action right there. But there is more.
According to the architects the skatepark plays an important social role in the community. An integrated skatepark will help create a sense of safety that many new housing developments lack, they tell us. While twisting and twirling in and out of the area it makes space for activity and play for everyone.
“The ditch and the surrounding parks will connect the city and will prevent a sense of “sleepy town” which often happens in new developments.”
Masterplan provided by COBE Architects
Skate tourism
The skatepark will not be for locals only. The architects hope the new area will attract visitors and tourists to the area.
“The green integrated design makes the park an experience for everybody else too, while contributing to bio-diversity and a great micro climate”, the COBE Architects say.
Knowing skateboarding and the 90’s attraction to ditches, Rune Glifbjerg is quite sure this 1 kilometer skateboard experience will attract more than just a local crowd. Listen up, Australia:
“We hope that there might be a guy in Australia, Japan or the US thinking that this is way epic and that that person just needs to go to Denmark to try this. This is a unique space we’re creating, that you can’t find anywhere else”, Rune Glifbjerg tells a local media.
“It’s super exciting that we can design a real urban space and make a massive urban development plan like this with COBE.”
FACTS Rune Glifberg
Professional skateboarder, Designer and Founder at Glifberg - Lykke.
Rune Glifberg is one of the biggest in the skate world. He became a professional vert skater at 17. He has competed in X-games 21 times and won 12 medals. He competed in the 2020 Olympics in park skateboarding.
After living in the US for 17 years he returned to Denmark and started an urban architect practice; Glifberg + Lykke with Ebbe Lykke. They specialise in unique urban spaces, skatepark spaces and skatepark design.
They’ve collaborated with architects around the world to build amazing skateparks, incl. Urban Sports Zone i Amsterdam, the unique and carbon neutral Oslo skatehall in Norway and the dome shaped skatepark Street Dome in Denmark.
Follow along as Glifberg skates down the ditch.
Want more facts? Ok, we’ve gotcha!
Denmark
Denmark is a small Scandinavian country with only 5.5 million citizens.
Fælledparken, which Rune Glifberg also had a huge part of designing, is an international standard skatepark - where scooters are not allowed! Actually, skateboarding has been integrated in the town planning for over a decade now and there are skate spots and plazas all over town amongst cafes, restaurants, shops and offices.
Copenhagen Open
The capital Copenhagen is also where the notorious (and one of the best in the world) skate competitions CPH Open attracts pro skaters year after year, due to the unique integration with the city and chilled vibes.
About COBE
Cobe is the architect behind the masterplan. They specialise in unique urban spaces — including skateable spaces — that connects a whole city incl. housing, shopping options, cafés, playgrounds and green spaces. Check out their work.
Do you know of an epic international skateboard related project? Please let us know about it. DM us on instagram or write to us on hello@slabzoo.com
