Museum of Archeology and Ethnography Mosgor is one of the main "keepers" of the ancient history of East Jutland. The pride of his collection are the runestones and the "man from Grauballe", whose body has been saved from decay for more than 2000 years by a peat bog. Due to the reconstruction, Mosgor was closed for the last year and a half, and when the construction of the new building entered its final stage, the museum staff began working on a new exhibition and preparing artifacts for the move.
A new building for Mosgor is being built in close proximity to the historical one (since 1970, the museum has been located in the 18th century estate of the same name). And it was precisely this neighborhood that turned out to be decisive for the architects: they had to offer a volume that would not distort the existing panoramas, but tactfully complement them. The theme of the museum itself played a key role in the formation of the architectural image - where, if not underground, is it most appropriate to locate the collection of archaeological finds?
However, in fact, the architects do not dig the building into the ground, but skillfully play with the rather noticeable relief difference existing on the site. They echo the natural slope with an artificial slope: the museum complex is covered with a gentle green roof, thanks to which it seems that the building is an integral part of the landscape. In summer, its space is planned to be used as a place for picnics and open-air parties, while in winter it will turn into the largest snow slide in the area.
The exhibition space of the museum is organized as a system of terraces, courtyards and caves located at different levels. As conceived by the architects, this is the best way to help visitors immerse themselves in the atmosphere of archaeological excavations and, moving from one room to another, make their own journey into the depths of the centuries.
The official opening of the museum is scheduled for October 2014. However, even now, thanks to its innovative architecture, Mosgor has become an unconditional attraction of Aarhus, equally well visible both from the city itself and from the sea.
