Amalie Rosenkrantz Hölmich

A brief summary of the project

This PhD project explores how Universal Design (UD) can provide a foundation for the landscape architectural development of new landscapes emerging from the green transition, with a focus on equitable access and the inclusion of persons with physical disabilities.

Denmark’s Green Tripartite Agreement (Den Grønne Trepart) could result in the conversion of up to 400,000 hectares of agricultural land into forests and natural areas to reduce CO₂ and nitrogen emissions and enhance biodiversity (Regeringen, 2024). However, recreation and access are not central priorities of the agreement. The decisions being made now will therefore shape who will have the opportunity to experience and engage with these new landscapes in the future.

People with disabilities currently face significant barriers to accessing nature and visit natural areas considerably less frequently than the general population (Videnscenter om Handicap, 2025). This limits their opportunities to benefit from the physical, mental and social advantages of spending time in nature (Realdania, 2025; Zhang et al., 2017). The green transition therefore presents an opportunity to integrate access into landscape transformation from the outset, rather than addressing it retrospectively. This could also create better opportunities to balance inclusion with biodiversity, nature conservation, water management and climate considerations.

The project adopts a broad understanding of access. Physical accessibility is essential but is complemented by other ways of experiencing and connecting with nature when physical access is restricted, for example due to ecological considerations. These may include sensory experiences, a sense of belonging, participation, or knowledge of a landscape and its development.

The project is structured in three parts. First, it examines the planning and management frameworks that shape opportunities for inclusive access to the new landscapes. Second, it explores how people with physical disabilities experience and develop connections with nature. These experiences provide valuable insights into access that may also be relevant to other user groups.

Based on these investigations, landscape architectural design principles grounded in UD will be developed and tested through two case studies: a public natural area managed by the Danish Nature Agency’s Søhøjlandet unit and a privately owned area of low-lying agricultural land being taken out of production. The case studies represent key ownership and management structures within the Green Tripartite Agreement and will be used to develop concrete visions, scenarios and strategies for integrating inclusive access with other landscape considerations.

The project generates new knowledge from both management and user perspectives and advances UD as a landscape architectural approach to the green transition. The findings will be translated into design principles, strategies and a practice-oriented design catalogue intended to inspire municipalities, public authorities and private landowners to integrate UD into future landscape transformations. The ambition is to contribute to a more inclusive green transition, enabling more people to experience, understand and engage with nature.