Vejle - Aarhus - Aalborg
Denmark has a lot of eye-catching modern architecture. From 2023-2026, Copenhagen has been designated as the World Capital of Architecture and many people visit the Danish capital to see its modern architecture. Our architecture tourism trip was in Jutland, a tour Vejle – Aarhus – Aalborg. The architecture tourism trip was very nice indeed, and a next year’s tour Esbjerg – Kolding – Odense is high on the list.
The present route is rather easy; from Vejle to Aarhus is only 76 km., and from Aarhus to Aalborg 119 km. Vejle has 63 k. inhabitants in the city proper, and 121 k. in the municipality, Aarhus 261 k. and 330 k. resp., and Aalborg 118 k., 221 k. resp. All three cities show great Danish architecture and design. All three cities have of course culture, history and nature as visitor attractions. And all three cities work on waterfront city development.
Vejle
The small city of Velje has some special architecture. The extension of the art museum is very nice, and next door you find the music hall, but the main attraction is the new waterfront area. Three structures are highlighted.
Bølgen, the Wave, is a luxury residential complex. Each of the five rolling ‘waves’ has nine storeys and some 20 individual apartments, with two-story homes. And they have a wonderful view of the Vejle Fjord and the E45 Vejlefjord Viaduct. The complex was constructed in two phases. The first two ‘waves’ were completed in 2009, then there was the financial crisis, and the construction of the last three ‘waves’ was completed in 2018. The architect was Henning Larsen Architects, who also designed the wonderful Moesgaard Museum near Aarhus. Since the Wave is a residential complex, visiting the interior is not possible. But the views from a distance and walks along the Fjord’s promenade are very pleasant.
In front of the Wave, the wooden floating structure of the kayak club is a very attractive place and gives a good look and feel of the waterfront. The structure was made to bring people together and create more community life - there is a BBQ place, a kitchen and a rooftop deck. You can enjoy the architecture of the kayak club floating building and relax on the rooftop. Next to the kayak club structure is restaurant Remouladen, where the rooftop terrace is equally pleasant.
Fjordenhus. Art and architecture are one in Fjordenhus. This building is the headquarters of Kirk - a financial investment company. Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and his architects have designed the building. The building covers 9.000 sq.m. and consists of four contiguous cylinders that rise to 28 metres above sea level. The ground floor of the building can be accessed and this is a must-see. In a video by Eliasson and his team, the idea and the process are explained.
Link: www.fjordenhus.dk/EN/
Youtube video Olafur Eliasson: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QCLS01fhqw
Click to enlarge
Aarhus
Moesgaard museum
On the way from Vejle to Aarhus you find the prehistory Moesgaard Museum. It was opened in 2014. The museum presents itself in the following words “Discover mankind – at Moesgaard Museum, you come close to the people of the past and the present through set designed and dramatized stories.” Our interest is not anthropology and history, but the architecture. The structure of the buildings appears to be simple, almost brutalist with its raw concrete, but timber and glass ensure that the building is not a cold building. The green roof and the ample space around the museum, lead to a harmony between the building and its surroundins of rolling hills and forest.
The views from the top of the building are very nice indeed. Inside the museum, the big foyer is an impressive heart of the building. The ‘evolutionary’ staircase gives access to the museum. “The interior of the building is designed to evoke a varied terraced landscape, which is inspired by archaeological excavations as they gradually unearth the layers of history and expose lost civilisations” says architect Henning Larsen about the interior. The big staircase gives access to upper and lower exhibition spaces, but is also reference space and a meeting place.
The best of the museum’s architecture is the exterior with its sloping roofscape of grass, views of the surroundings, access to terraces and plenty of space for activities (a picnic in the Summer, sledding in the Winter, a place to relax after a walk. The museum is a big public space in natural surroundings. The frontpage of Moesgaard’s website presents a beautiful drone picture, the website of the architect present a stylish drone video.
Link: www.moesgaardmuseum.dk/en/
Video footage henninglarsen.com/en/projects/featured/0716-moesgaard-museum/
Aarhus Ø waterfront development
Aarhus Ø (the docklands district) has been converting a former container port, Nordhavn, to a new residential and recreational area. The district consists of medium to high rise modern architecture, seaside promenades, places for leisure (an open air harbour bath, parks), a community vegetable garden, and a network of canals. The district will have more than 10 - 12.000 residents once it is completed (in 2019, the number was 4.000). Much attention is paid to architecture – the mostly residential complexes have special designs and a visit to Aarhus Ø is definitely worth the trip.
Best known is the complex the Iceberg. It is a modern condominium complex consisting of white apartment buildings with blue balconies. Next to the Iceberg is the Lighthouse complex, with a 142 m. tower (a top floor restaurant is to open). The 'AARhus Ø' residential building has 20 floors and is 72 meters.
ARoS, Aarhus Art Museum
ARoS was opened in 2004. It is a big modern art museum; 20,700 sq.m. on ten storeys. It is popular, and received over 600.000 visitors in 2022, making it the most visited art museum of Scandinavia. The building is a red cube with white interior, which is cut vertically by a ‘museum street,’ a glass-covered curved section. In 2018 a colorful 150-metre-long circular walkway on the rooftop of the building. This 'Rainbow Panorama' was designed by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. We mentioned his name earlier, he designed Vejle’s Fjordenhus.. His stand is that art and architecture should be one.
ARoS is big and impressive. The exterior is called a square diamond, but to us it was a red cube. The interior, especially the museum street, is the highlight of architecture. The premium of ARoS is the Rainbow Panorama. Art, or architecture, or a perfect merge? The experience is wonderful. Visitors are surprised when they enter the walkway, and the impact of light on the views made me look in a different way, and my inner state of mind changed.
ARoS will expand; after a delay the construction of the project ‘Semi-Subterranean Dome’ has started. It will be a 1.200 square meter subterranean gallery and a huge semi-subterranean dome. generating a special experience of colour and light. It opens in 2025.
Link: www.aros.dk/en/
More in Aarhus
Aarhus has much more to offer to architecture tourists. Two places along Basin2 of the harbour are mentioned: Dokk1 library+ building and Navitas Science and Innvation campus.
Dokk1 is a library+, or, as the website states, “a public space that functions as a culture house, uniting public institutions like library, citizen services, and national TV. Dokk1 provides a space for communities, contemplation, learning, and play.” The building is a big (30.000 sq.m.) heptagonal building. The exterior is not very attractive exterior (opinions vary, website Culture Trip calls it ‘iconic’), but the interior design is a good exprience. The building is on top of a bus station and the upper floors contain a municipal service centre, a restaurant and a big and beautiful library. Library in a broad meaning, most modern libraries have spaces for music, study and play. In a big space you find 'gongen', which is said to be the world's largest pipe bell.
The Navitas building is also big (38.000 sq. m.) and is home to the Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering, Aarhus University and INCUBA. It is is beautifully located. The outdoor areas around the building have been well designed with wooden stepped levels, tyical Danish style. It is a popular spot for taking a break at the waterfront..
Links: www.dokk1.dk/ www.navitas-aarhus.dk/,