Playful architecture and urban spaces
We create space for play
In Travbyen, we design the neighbourhood from the outside in. First, we create the framework for a vibrant and human everyday life that supports communities, then we shape the urban spaces – and finally, we develop the homes. This results in a neighbourhood where architecture, community and movement are naturally intertwined.
Travbyen's architecture is based on a clear set of values concerning variety, human scale and space for play. That is why we have brought together several teams of architects to work on the development, so that the neighbourhood will have a rich and colourful expression – with small differences in roof shapes, details and street spaces that create experiences at eye level.
Our goal is to create a neighbourhood that supports community and embraces both social and environmental sustainability.
Human scale
Our goal is to create a neighbourhood that supports community and embraces both social and environmental sustainability. The construction follows the scale familiar from the rest of Billund. The buildings vary in height from two to four storeys and are highest near Playline.
Space for play
Travbyen is built around the idea of play as a central part of life. This approach characterises the entire development and gives Travbyen a distinctive identity.
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different homes with different architectural styles.
In Travbyen, the architecture is shaped by the tension between the familiar and the surprising – a playful balance where traditional forms meet new details, giving the district its unique character.
Søren Nielsen, professor, Cand.arch, Arkitektskolen Aarhus
Play as a way of life
In Travbyen, play is not a break from everyday life – it is a way of life and a prerequisite for quality of life. For us, play and quality of life are inextricably linked: one cannot exist without the other. That is why play is not something that is added on top of the architecture, but something that is woven into the way we design spaces, streets and buildings.
This means that architecture sets the stage and forms the framework for playful living. It is not about more playgrounds, but about creating spaces that allow for curiosity, creativity and community – and that invite people of all ages and stages of life to participate.
Earlier this year, we launched the first report in a series of publications featuring construction industry insights. Here you can read much more about how we at Byggeriet have worked to create playful architecture and urban spaces.
With the lives we lead, where we are constantly being measured and evaluated, play can be a super important respite – and I hope that Travbyen takes the lead and takes play seriously, and actually incorporates it as a fundamental philosophy in the way we develop cities.
Assistant Professor, Lab for Play Design, Kolding Designskole
Read more about urban development in Travbyen
Climate, ressources and biodiversity
Knowledge bank
Urban development for people, with nature
Frequently asked questions
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What characterizes the architecture in Travbyen?
The architecture in Travbyen balances between the familiar and the surprising. The neighborhood is designed on a human scale with variation in roof shapes, facades, and details, making the architecture lively, playful, and full of small experiences at eye level. This creates an urban environment where you feel at home and want to explore.
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What is the architectural vision for Travbyen?
Travbyen has been developed by several teams of architects to ensure a rich variety of design language, materials, and housing types. This means that the neighborhood will not be uniform, but will instead have a diverse and human expression, where each street and each cluster has its own identity – without losing sight of the whole.
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How does Travbyen work with urban spaces and community?
The urban spaces are designed to encourage people to meet each other naturally. Intimate streets, green courtyards, communal gardens, and neighborhood rooms make it easy to meet, share, and create communities. The architecture provides space for both tranquility, activity, and spontaneous encounters – and supports a vibrant and social urban life.
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What role does play have as a design approach?
Play is a guiding principle in the design of Travbyen and in the architectural choices we make. Many people might assume that this means we will build lots of playgrounds. In fact, we turn that on its head: we create space for play, and let residents fill that space with whatever they want. We know that this improves quality of life.
That is why play is for both children and adults. And that is why, in Travbyen, you will see how architecture and public spaces work in a functional, intelligent way while also sparking curiosity and inviting play.