Aarhus together with Copenhagen make up the two most important cities in Denmark. Among other things, the most famous architectural institute in the country is located in Aarhus, and therefore for many large and now famous architectural workshops, the creative start was given here.
Aarhus is an actively developing city: there is a young and proactive mayor, excellent architectural firms (often with a representative office in Copenhagen) and a population who cares. And - whether from the fact that Aarhus was haunted by competition with Copenhagen, or from a natural desire for self-development - the municipal authorities, together with residents, decided to turn their city into the capital of science and arts. In Denmark, there are a huge number of social programs of various levels, focused on the development of these areas. So, if you prove that you paint perfectly in oils, and that you need financial support for your talent, then the required amount will most likely be provided to you. They also believed in the bright future of Aarhus and began to invest energy and money in the city. This is how wonderful modern architecture appeared there. Do not think that it was not here before - it was, but in a clear minority compared to traditional buildings.
We will begin our walk around the "Modern Aarhus" from the seashore: this is how people come here from Copenhagen - by ferry. Not so long ago, the Aarhus embankment was almost absent. There may have been something metaphysical in this emptiness, but it would be strange not to use such a beautiful piece of land for philosophical reasons. Therefore, within the framework of the urban development program, a coastal development project was developed. Many of the designed objects are now at the initial stage of construction, and we will not talk about them yet, but consider those that have already been built or are almost ready.
Let's start with Isbjerget, a residential complex designed by architects CEBRA and JDS in collaboration with Louis Paillard and SeARCH. In 2008, a competition was announced for a landmark object on the site of the container terminal, where the Iceberg project won unconditionally.
There are 210 apartments in "Iceberg", the area of which varies from 50 m2 to 200 m2. The typology of apartments is varied: from modest one-room apartments to penthouses. There are six commercial spaces, ranging from 110 m2 to 211 m2. The project provides for both apartments for rent and those that will be sold (or have already been sold) into ownership.
The complex has an unusual shape, due to the fact that the architects wanted to provide a view of the sea and as much daylight as possible in each apartment, which was achieved. There was also an "art gesture" in this: young architects brought it to the ideal, sometimes sacrificing the comfort of the layout, but it is difficult to judge them for this - they "got into the image" too well.
The next point of our route is very close to the "Iceberg" and is called the "Lighthouse" (Light * house). This project, combining public and private functions, was developed by 3XN, architects with long experience in design, who, by the way, once started their practice in Aarhus, together with the Dutch workshop UNStudio.
Living spaces "Mayak" are combined with public: cafes, restaurants and a promenade along the water. An underground garage is provided for motorists, while vehicles are prohibited from entering the territory of the complex: it is intended only for pedestrians and cyclists. This is a public policy in Denmark: everything possible is being done to ensure that the population switches to bicycles and public transport.
In the residential part of the complex, as in the Iceberg, some of the apartments are for rent (300), and some are for sale (100). This practice has become fashionable in Denmark through the successful experience of the Netherlands. The main goal of the architects was to combine the "sunny" orientation of the living quarters to the south and the beautiful view from the north side. The highlight of the not yet fully completed complex will be the Sky Bar, located on the top floor of a 140 m high tower, thanks to which the Mayak complex claims to be the tallest building in Denmark. And finally, we note that the image of this complex was inspired by highlights on the water.
And we are moving to the center of Aarhus - to the city art museum ARoS. Its building is a very solid work of the studio schmidt hammer lassen (2004), but the architectural techniques in it are not new. But the exhibitions held here are worth special attention: once in Aarhus, be sure to visit them. One of them is a permanent observation deck installation “Your rainbow panorama” by the famous Danish artist Olafur Eliasson on the roof of the museum.
It is a circle of glass panels, on which all the colors of the spectrum are applied. It seems to be very simple, but the effect is amazing. From here you can not only look at the city in “pink color”, but also feel how the body reacts to color changes in the process of moving in a circle, when the city suddenly becomes cold and alienated, and after a few seconds turns into a bright and blazing heat. The glasses were made in Italy; As the leaders of the museum say, it was a pleasant surprise for them that they all got to Aarhus safe. The diameter of the rainbow installation is 52 m, and the width of the path is 3 m.
The last object on our architectural journey requires a relocation to the suburb of Aarhus - Hoybjerg. Here, a wonderful archaeological and ethnographic museum Moesgård is being built by the Henning Larsen Architects bureau. This project was not easy to bring to fruition. In Denmark, funds were easily allocated for art museums and similar institutions, but museums of national history and culture were given money only for extensions to existing buildings. In the meantime, collections grew, and excellent conditions were required for their storage and display. Finally, it became clear that the Moesgård estate, which had served as a museum since 1970, needed to be completed with a new building.
A tender was announced, in which the winner was the option that most of all fits into the natural landscape. The roof of the museum is exploited, and from it you can admire the views of the forests, sea and fields. Although the building is not yet ready, skateboarders have already chosen its roof for their exercises, which, of course, was not included in the plans of the museum management, but it did not interfere with them.
The collection of the museum consists of a section of Danish antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as ethnographic collections from Bahrain and other countries of the Persian Gulf. In the new building, on an area of 11,000 m2, interactive exhibitions will be arranged, allowing the visitor to feel the atmosphere of distant times. Curators declare: "When you exhibit something, you should be able to say that in the exhibition, maybe not everything is true, but there is a lot of truth in it." The exhibition halls form the core of the museum, as well as a souvenir shop, a cafe, educational premises for schoolchildren, a conference hall for 250 people, storerooms and others.
The museum has already become a noticeable object in the life of Aarhus, and of Denmark as a whole. A picturesque road leads to it, it can be seen from the sea side and, despite its large area, it is neatly inscribed in the landscape, emphasizing its beauty and not at all violating the harmony of the place.
As Aarhus continues to evolve, new beautiful modern buildings are added to its recognizable silhouette. But even this is not important, but the fact that a country where the state is busy creating comfortable conditions for life, study and recreation of its people is definitely moving in the right direction.
