Collage af lys og mørke

Kakinokimura, Shiratani: en samtale mellem tid, sted, bygning og landskab.

Name
Lea Holtoug
Education degree
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Architecture
Institute
Architecture and Culture
Program
Cultural Heritage, Transformation and Conservation
Year
2026

Kakinokimura, er et bjergsamfund, hvor fællesskab, jordbrug og byggeskik i høj grad er formet af ekstreme vejrforhold. Med afsæt i feltarbejde i Japan tager projektet udgangspunkt i et forladt hus, en have og et dyrkningslandskab og undersøger adaptive måder at leve, bo og bygge gennem en stedsspecifik transformation. Projektet er et tværfagligt samarbejde mellem KTR og Arkitektur og Landskab.

Situationsplan 1:200
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Diagram
Snit

The Royal Danish Academy supports the Sustainable Development Goals

Since 2017 the Royal Danish Academy has worked with the Sustainable Development Goals. This is reflected in our research, our teaching and in our students’ projects. This project relates to the following UN goal(-s)
CV

I am an architect graduating from the Royal Danish Academy with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape and a Master's specialisation in Heritage, Transformation and Restoration. With a background as a cabinetmaker and many years of practical experience working with materials, fabrication and interdisciplinary collaboration, I work at the intersection of architecture, craftsmanship and sustainable development.

I see transformation as one of architecture's most important tools in addressing future environmental challenges. Rather than building from scratch, I am interested in how existing buildings and landscapes can be adapted and developed to remain meaningful, resilient and relevant over time.

Throughout my Master's studies, water management has been a recurring theme in all my projects. I am particularly interested in how climate adaptation can become an architectural potential rather than a purely technical solution, and how architecture can strengthen the relationship between cultural heritage, landscape and everyday life.

I enjoy working across disciplines and am especially interested in sensory, site-specific and socially sustainable environments that support diverse ways of living, learning and gathering.

Education & Relevant Courses
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Cabinetmaker

I completed a classical apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker, gaining extensive experience in traditional craftsmanship, technical drawing, material processing and product development. My training included joinery techniques, veneer work, hand tools, power tools and CNC machining, as well as surveying and fabrication.
Working closely with clients and collaborators, I participated in the development and design of bespoke products, strengthening my ability to translate ideas into realised solutions through a combination of craftsmanship, precision and interdisciplinary collaboration. I graduated with the Danish Silver Medal (Sølvmedaljen), one of the highest distinctions awarded within Danish craftsmanship, presented personally by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. I was also awarded a travel grant from the Danske Bank Foundation in recognition of my work and craftsmanship.
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Bachelor of Architecture | Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape (IBBL), The Royal Danish Academy

During my Bachelor's studies at the Royal Danish Academy, I explored the relationship between architecture, landscape and social sustainability through projects across different scales and contexts. My projects included a co-housing community for elderly residents in Christiania, a nature kindergarten in the Japanese mountain village of Kakinokimura, a woodworking workshop for vulnerable young people in De Gamles By and a series of sensory pavilions developed in collaboration with the Bevica Foundation.
The programme fostered an awareness of large-scale territorial thinking, landscape philosophy and phenomenological methods of site registration. Through these approaches, I developed an interest in understanding places through observation, movement and sensory experience, and in how architecture can support learning, inclusion and everyday life through site-specific and landscape-based design strategies.
This work laid the foundation for my continuing interest in transformation, climate adaptation and the relationship between cultural heritage, landscape and everyday life.
Professional Work Experience
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Cabinetmaker | Byggeselskabet Maj

As a cabinetmaker at Byggeselskabet Maj, I worked on sustainable building projects with a focus on timber construction, material reuse and custom-made solutions. Working closely with craftsmen, architects and other professionals I contributed to the development and realisation of projects that combined technical precision with environmental responsibility.
This experience gave me a strong understanding of construction processes, detailing and interdisciplinary collaboration, and sparked my interest in the relationship between architecture, materials and the built environment.
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Designer and cabinetmaker | Cabinet

As co-founder of Cabinet together with graphic designer Molly Kyhl, I designed and produced bespoke objects and furniture in wood and coloured glass. Our work was developed for private clients, interior architects and retailers, including Stilleben Copenhagen and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art shop.
I was involved in the entire process, from concept development and material selection to fabrication, quotations, supplier coordination and delivery. The experience strengthened my understanding of materials, craftsmanship and how ideas can be translated into realised projects.
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Freelance Model Builder | Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects

As a freelance model builder for Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects, I have produced large-scale presentation models in both 2024 and 2025 for projects including the Novo Nordisk Headquarters and the Danevirke Museum. The work required a high level of precision and close collaboration with architects throughout the design process, translating complex architectural ideas into tangible and communicative physical models.
My interest in model making originates from traditions of handcrafted architectural models and their ability to investigate spatial qualities, materiality and atmosphere. In 2025, I was awarded a travel grant to Japan, where I studied Japanese traditions of handcrafted model making and their relationship to architecture and craftsmanship. I currently share a workshop with retired model builder Lars Rothenborg, whose lifelong experience and knowledge continue to inspire my practice.
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Architectural Intern | Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects

As part of my internship at Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects, I contributed to two architectural competition projects: the transformation of a residential neighbourhood in Augsburg, Germany, and the design of a new cultural centre in Neu-Isenburg, Germany.

Working within an interdisciplinary team, I participated in research, analysis and the development of architectural concepts, exploring how existing environments can be transformed into meaningful and resilient places. The experience provided valuable insight into collaborative design processes and strengthened my interest in transformation, cultural heritage and the relationship between architecture, landscape and everyday life.