Aarhus Museum of Modern Art (ARoS)

Aarhus , Denmark
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Photo © Adam Mørk
Drawing © schmidt hammer lassen architects
arkkitehdit
Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Location
Aarhus , Denmark
Year
2004

This striking art museum is the cultural centrepiece of Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city. The museum is designed specifically to welcome visitors, straddling a public thoroughfare that transforms the building into a bridge linking two of the city’s cultural centres. This public route through the museum provides a vital connection with the network of streets beyond, encouraging dynamic interplay between the museum and everyday life.

The building, set into the sloping site, has a footprint of 52 x 52 metres and stands almost 50 metres high. In contrast to the apparent severity of the exterior, the dazzling white interior, flooded with daylight, presents a sequence of highly organic sweeping curves that define the different levels of the building.

The interior curving walkway divides the museum into two distinct wings: the exhibition wing with its gallery spaces and the service wing housing a restaurant, administration offices, conservation area, workshops, storerooms and a library.

A spectacular spiral staircase rises up from the museum walkway, a sculptural form wrapping around two lift shafts, together providing dramatic connections to the exhibition galleries. High-level bridges traverse the canyon of the atrium space, creating dynamic connections between the two core areas of the museum.

Awards: 2004, Aarhus Municipality’s Architecture Prize/ 2004, FX Awards Best Museum/ 2004, InSitu Prize.
Read more: https://www.shl.dk/aros-museum/

Related Projects

  • Promenade Favorita, Lugano TI
    mavo gmbh
  • Garten Höhenweg St.Gallen
    mavo gmbh
  • Sagiareal, Greppen LU
    mavo gmbh
  • Progressiver Reinraumausbau
    Lindner Group
  • Büro Allmendstrasse
    BFB Architekten AG

Magazine

Other Projects by Schmidt Hammer Lassen

HU University of Applied Sciences
Utrecht, Nederland
Framehouse
Dragør, Denmark
Commonwealth Pier
Boston, USA
Malmö Live
Malmö, Sweden
University of Aberdeen New Library
Aberdeen, Great Britain