Herning (Denmark)

The SUPERSHINE Danish lighthouse district is located in Holtbjerg, Herning Municipality, within a highly efficient renewable district heating system supplied by the biomass CHP plant Herningværket (78 MW electric / 200 MW thermal), serving around 48,000 households through the cooperative utility Verdo. The district includes schools, shops, single-family homes, and apartment blocks and is characterised by social vulnerability, making it an ideal site to test inclusive, energy-efficient renovation strategies.

A standout initiative is the 50 m² orangery built entirely from recycled materials, part of the “Green and Blue Oasis at Holtbjerg”. The orangery, constructed with concrete from dismantled balconies and repurposed windows, provides residents with a communal space for relaxation and social activities while demonstrating circular construction practices. Around 18 tonnes of materials were reused, saving an estimated 17 tonnes of CO₂.

The oasis also features beehives, raised beds, fruit groves, insect hotels, and shared outdoor spaces, improving biodiversity, comfort, and neighbourhood quality.
Community engagement was central to the project. Residents and students from VIA University College and Herningsholm Erhvervsskole and Gymnasium actively participated in design and construction, fostering skills development, collaboration, and resource awareness.

Through energy-efficient renovation, circular construction, and community-led regeneration, the Herning lighthouse demonstrates how social housing districts can become sustainable, inclusive, and resilient, enhancing quality of life and empowering residents.