Ribe Cathedral Square

Ribe Cathedral Square has been reshaped with the ambition of re-establishing the connection between the city’s urban spaces and the cathedral, which over centuries of accumulated cultural layers had ended up lying significantly lower than its surroundings. The terrain has been reworked so that the square appears as one continuous surface from façade to façade, with the cathedral’s floor level as reference. This adjustment highlights the base of the church, restores its architectural weight in the cityscape, and strengthens the square’s role as an important social space in Ribe.

The granite paving is set in leveled crushed stone and laid with double joint width to ensure permeability and to protect the 1,500-year-old cultural layers from drying out and subsequent subsidence. Drainage takes place across the entire surface, where water seeps down through the joints and helps maintain the soil’s moisture balance.

Groups of trees are placed on raised plinths, which both protect the plantings and serve as seating furniture. The placement of the plinths guides pedestrian and bicycle traffic along former street routes, without breaking the overall unity of the square.

This comprehensive intervention unites historical respect with contemporary urban qualities and emphasizes the landscape architectural principle of allowing paving, terrain, and water management to work together. The result is a robust, functional, and visually coherent urban space that preserves cultural heritage while at the same time future-proofing it against deterioration.

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