Kengo Kuma-designed Hans Christian Andersen House opens in city of Odense
The new H.C. Andersen House, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, has opened its doors to visitors in the Danish city of Odense.
Dedicated to the life of the celebrated author – famous for his fairytales, such as the Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling – the US$62m visitor attraction consists of both indoor and outdoor spaces.
The attraction is located on the site of Hans Christian Andersen’s childhood home in Odense, which first opened as a museum in 1908.
As part of a Denmark-wide initiative to expand the country’s cultural tourism offer, the City of Odense embarked on a project to transform the museum into a flagship tourist attraction, harnessing the worldwide appeal of Andersen’s stories.
The new attraction aims to break new ground in its combination of site and collection interpretation with immersive theatre, bringing visitors into a new appreciation of Andersen’s creative output and celebrating his imagination.
It has a floor space of 5,600sq m – two-thirds of which is underground, creating a "magical garden space" in the centre of Odense.
Inside, visitors navigate a series of immersive chambers, trails and interactive exhibits that bring the master storyteller’s tales to life.
The exhibition spaces have been designed in partnership by UK-based Event Communications and 12 selected artists from around the world.
The common denominator for all the contributing artists – which include Brazilian installation artist Henrique Oliveira, British puppet-maker Andy Gent and Danish scriptwriter Kim Fupz Aakeson – is that their art in one way or another is associated with the art of Hans Christian Andersen.
Henrik Lübker, creative director of H.C. Andersen’s House, said: "We've identified artists that correspond with Andersen’s universe and its core values.
"In that sense, the ambition has been to create art, which exists on its own terms, while simultaneously fitting into the overall project: Creating an H.C. Andersen’s House in which landscape, architecture, exhibitions, design and art all melt together to form a coherent experience.
"The audience can expect to go on a journey and enter into a world in which humor and play are at least as important as answers and truth.
"They experience a world in which you step into surrealistic game shows or get thrown around by the elements as if you were a tin soldier. A world where you are at the bottom of the ocean looking up, looking out, at a different world as a little mermaid or endure the same terrible things the ugly duckling had to.
"The audience can expect a world that is for all ages and times. For families and the individual."
Kengo Kuma Event Communications OdenseKengo Kuma-designed New National Stadium completed in Tokyo
Kengo Kuma wins competition to design fairytale-themed Hans Christian Andersen museum expansion
City of Odense launches architectural contest for Hans Christian Andersen attraction


Swedish architects Wingårdhs create year-round resort with waterpark and hotel for Liseberg

Juneteenth Museum by Bjarke Ingels Group has been designed to inspire spiritual uplift

BIG and HOK's timber concept wins Zurich Airport competition

Christoph Ingenhoven reveals Lanserhof Sylt, featuring the largest thatched roof in Europe

BIG's designs Prague concert hall to be vibrant centre of life

Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public

Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral

Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto

World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester

Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan

Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi

Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp

SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences

Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China

Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments

Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland

Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London

Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive

Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort

Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island

Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits

Foster + Partners designs Dorchester Collection's first hotel in Middle East

Neil Jacobs reveals Six Senses Places concept for major cities

Orient Express returns to Italy after 46 years with six trains designed by Dimorestudio and new Rome hotel

400-year-old mineral spring will power Preidlhof’s €2m medicinal bath experience

Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase
