Two Cities Divided by Water - One Shared Vision

In 2023, two Danish municipalities got on their way to chart the next 100 years of life along the Lillebælt, the strait of water dividing them. Vandskabt Skønhed is a values-led place analysis of the Lillebælt region, commissioned by Middelfart and Fredericia municipalities as part of their twin city collaboration. Group NAO was tasked with shaping a long-term vision rooted in local identity, one that could steer future investments in nature, culture, and community life across the belt.

In dialogue with those who know Lillebælt the best, a community engagement process uncovered not only locals' dreams but deeply personal stories of belonging, beauty, and concern for the sea. What emerged was a powerful and poetic understanding of Lillebælt as more than a geographic location – as a living connection between people, nature, and everyday freedom. Through the lens of those local narratives, the project identified four design principles as well as a guiding metaphor of "the third bridge," a symbolic path towards a sustainable, community-driven destination future.

Download the paper below.