On Thursday, 22 October, Mayor Tomas Breddam (A) accepted the 2026 Paving Award on behalf of Roskilde Municipality in recognition of the renewal of Hestetorvet.
In its citation, the jury commends Roskilde Municipality for combining the creation of a greener, more vibrant city centre with a reduced carbon footprint, while upholding the core values of the paving profession.
Paving craftsmanship as a driving force
Brolæggerprisen is presented by Brolæggerlauget to projects, individuals or initiatives that contribute to developing, strengthening and raising the profile of the paving trade.
Claus Johnsen, Oldermand Brolæggerlauget, explains:
“With the renewal of Hestetorvet, Roskilde has gained a greener and more functional urban space. At the same time, you have preserved something essential: the history and identity of the place. From a professional perspective, this is a skilled and convincing approach that saves materials and reduces the project’s CO₂ emissions.”
The transformation of Hestetorvet is intended to breathe new life into Roskilde city centre. Throughout the project, the municipality, as the client, has also made the reuse of existing materials a priority.
Mayor Tomas Breddam welcomes the recognition of the municipality’s ambitions:
“We are proud to be recognised for advancing the aims of the award that are developing, strengthening and raising the profile of the paving trade.
We are also delighted that the award recognises solutions that point the way towards the future of paving and public spaces.”
The new paving at Hestetorvet consists primarily of existing cobblestones, granite kerbstones and granite steps, which have been lifted and reused in new patterns and functions. In total, approximately 80% of the previous paving has been reused.
Prioritising reuse requires close collaboration
Jens Poulsen Schmidt, Production Manager at the main contractor Scheller, Hougaard & Petersen A/S, also highlights the project’s circular initiatives:
“From the outset, we encountered an openness to doing things a little differently than usual. Choosing to preserve and reuse materials rather than starting from scratch places demands on everyone involved in the project. In return, the result is a place with a story to tell.”
The craftsmanship behind reuse
For Roskilde Brolægning, the company responsible for the paving works, the project demonstrates how the quality of existing materials can be preserved and carried forward through skilled craftsmanship. Paving contractor Michel Elkjær explains:
“We know Roskilde, and we also know that the city’s public spaces each have their own history. That is why it is particularly rewarding to be part of a project in which as much as possible has been preserved and reused rather than replaced.”
In addition, much of the existing sub-base and base layers has been retained and reused, reducing the need for new materials and lowering the project’s overall carbon footprint.
MASU Planning is the lead consultant and is responsible for the design of the renewed Hestetorvet. Sune Oslev, landscape architect and partner at MASU Planning, explains:
“As the client, Roskilde Municipality’s focus on reuse established ambitious parameters for the project. Our collaboration with the main contractor, Scheller, Hougaard & Petersen, therefore involved not only creating a new urban space, but also adapting working methods and logistics to retain as many of the existing resources as possible. Close collaboration with the municipality and contractor has made it possible to reduce the carbon footprint without compromising the ambition to introduce more greenery and enhance the space’s recreational value.”
Photograph by Jakob Søndergaard Frederiksen
HESTETORVET
Client: Roskilde Municipality
Consultant: MASU Planning
Main contractor: Scheller, Hougaard & Petersen A/S
Paving subcontractor: Roskilde Brolægning ApS
FACTS ABOUT BROLÆGGERPRISEN (THE PAVING AWARD) 2026
The three finalists for Brolæggerprisen 2026 were Roskilde Municipality for the Hestetorvet project in Roskilde, Aarhus Municipality for Rundhøj Torv in Højbjerg, and engineer Henrik Majlund.
Since 1986, Brolæggerlauget has presented the Brolæggerprisen to a client, consultant, institution or municipality that has made a particular contribution to developing, strengthening and raising the profile of the paving trade. The award recognises traditional craftsmanship, technical quality, architectural understanding and solutions that point the way towards paving and public spaces of the future.
