Horsen’s 162-year-old Prison Museum in Denmark has debuted a new permanent exhibition chronicling the escape of former prisoner Carl August Lorentzen.

The exhibition, called Lorentzen’s Tunnel, tells the story of Lorentzen, a burglar who after 11 months of work had dug an 18-metre-long (60 foot) tunnel that led him to freedom on Christmas Eve 1949, leaving a note in his cell saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way”. While the daring escape only lasted a eight days before his recapture, Lorentzen became infamous as a “gentleman thief” and as an escape artist.

The exhibition – funded by the Nordea-foundation – includes a replica of the tunnel, reconstructed from photos, drawings and archaeological excavations. Using interactive, digital and analogue elements to depict elements of Carl August Lorentzen’s upbringing, placements, love life and prison sentences, visitors can experience the prison department and the cell where Lorentzen served his sentence 68 years ago.

Copenhagen-based design studio Kvorning Design, who specialise in exhibition design, graphic communications and interior design, created the exhibition, working on design and implementation.

Lorentzen’s Tunnel is the last of a four phase development plan for Horsens Prison following a multi-million dollar redesign and refurbishment of the former state prison. 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.

Copenhagen-based design studio Kvorning Design & Kommunikation reveals next phase for Denmark's Prison Museum