The 162-year-old Prison Museum in Horsens, Denmark, has reopened to the public after the second phase of a significant Dkr21.8m (US$3.2m, €2.9m, £2m) redesign and refurbishment of the former state prison, with the latest expansion telling the story of the people who lived and worked in the facility.

Copenhagen-based design studio Kvorning Design & Kommunikation (KDK), which specialises in exhibition design, graphic communications and interior design, worked with the museum for several months on concept development, exhibition design and implementation for the second development phase – costing Dkr12.6m (US$1.9m, €1.7m, £1.2m). This phase was funded by Arbejdsmarkedets Feriefond (Dkr9.8m, US$1.4m, €1.3m, £936,000) and Horsens Municipality (Dkr2.8m, US$419,000, €375,000, £267,000) respectively.

The prison first opened as a visitor attraction in May 2012 following the first phase of a three-phase plan. Phase two included expanded exhibition space in the former prison, with new exhibitions in the expanded space offering a look at prison life from several perspectives, showing former inmates' points of view as well as those of the former prison’s guards.

“The new features bring back life to the old prison,” said a representative of KDK, speaking to CLAD. “The exhibition applies extensive use of video, animations and soundscapes to tell real life stories told by the people involved. We don’t use professional actors, rather the prison officers and inmates telling their own, true stories.”

On entering the former prison, visitors check in by selecting one of 10 different authentic identities, offering a personalised experience of either a prisoner or a guard as they explore the facility. Technology in the prison’s cells, kitchens, bathroom and prison church responds to the card visitors select and tells a unique, real-life story.

The third and final phase of expansion, currently being outlined by KDK and the Prison Museum, will start work late in Q3 2015, with a completion date of Q1 2017. The Horsens Statsfængsel was first opened in 1853 and closed in 2006. Since then the prison has acted primarily as a concert venue, where bands including Metallica have performed.

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