Skovtunnelen

The Forest Tunnel, completed in december 2023, transforms an intimidating underpass into a safe, engaging sensory journey through innovative lighting design and project development. The system evolved from an experimental audio installation, which became a permanent lighting system, using a spectre of colour, that guides pedestrians from city to forest physically and metaphysically. For this project a special focus on using minimal resources was applied.

The Forest Tunnel emerged as part of an innovative experiment to determine if showcasing the forest’s positive sound palette could alleviate the lack of safety felt in this underpass. What began as a temporary sound design experiment has been translated into a permanent lighting system, that significantly enhances the tunnel experience⁠⁠, using minimal resources but making full use of the learning, from the base experiment.

The distinctive feature of this installation is a sequence of green light that increases in intensity and is modulated in hue, as pedestrians approach the forest, beginning from the city entrance⁠⁠. Mixing in and building upon the original fixtures of the tunnel, a complete system has been formed.

This system connects the urban environment with the forest beyond Dronning Margrethesvej, transforming what was once an intimidating passage into an engaging and natural sensory journey. The graduated green illumination not only improves visibility but psychologically prepares visitors for their transition from city to forest environment.

The Forest Tunnel stands as a testament to how experimental urban design can evolve into meaningful permanent infrastructure, enhancing public safety while creating a unique sense of place.

Experience:
Skovtunnelen was the product of good internal project experience sharing, at Teknik & Miljø. I took a audio experiment handled by a different dept. than mine and used it as the basis for this project, with careful attention to the learning from the audio experiment, as well as progressing from audio to lighting design with high regard for the artists’ original intentions and audio design.

Highlighted circumstances, that I dealt with in this project:

Advising on design process in line with artists early on in the experimental audio project, to ensure a foundation that would be especially capable of fitting into the environment.
Drafting and finalizing contracts with designers and contractors, focusing especially on contractors here.
Specifying technical parts to make sure that fixtures and auxiliary components chosen, were right for the framework of upkeep, for the future and fit in line with the requirements of our organisation.
Drafting and implementing approved maintenance plan designed around the idea of a harmonious existence of the installation in a graffiti hotspot, which proved to be very effective in avoiding upkeep.
Defining focus in and arranging of independent analysis to measure effectiveness of the light volume and expression, in heightening the sense of safety, for users of the tunnel.
Developing and executing press package consisting of photography, descriptions, publication etc.