Artist and architects join forces to fire Aarhus art museum into the world elite
by Kim Megson | 13 Nov 2015
The worlds of art and architecture are collaborating in the Danish city of Aarhus, where an ambitious expansion of the city’s modern art museum is underway.
Danish studio schmidt hammer lassen architects are working with acclaimed American artist James Turrell to extend the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum; a project which is intended to propel it “into the the world elite museums".
The €30m (US$32.3m, £21.2m) expansion - called ‘The Next Level’ – will merge art and architecture into a new civic experience.
The team will work together on a new 1,200sq m (13,000sq ft) underground gallery connected to the existing building, and two large semi-subterranean art installations created by Turrell. The project will develop the museum outwards, contrasting with the existing vertical structure.
“Our studio is not just designing a new room for a new artwork, we're co-creating the space and the installation simultaneously with James Turrell,” said schmidt hammer lassen partner Morten Schmidt. “It's a privilege for me as an architect to have the opportunity to work with him.”
Turrell is best known for his large-scale art installations. His ‘Roden Crater’ – an extinct volcano in the Arizona desert – is the world's largest work of art.
Schmidt hammer lassen designed the existing museum building, which has been in use since 2004.
The studio has created many of the most striking buildings in Aarhus. Work recently finished on its Dokk1 project; Scandinavia’s largest library.
Other developments in the city include the Bjarke Ingels-designed ‘Aarhus Island’, a large residential and leisure project along the harbourside.
American artist James Turrell – the man behind the world's largest work of art – is working with schmidt hammer lassen on the museum's extension Credit: Morten Fauerby
The Danish architects also created the existing museum building, which has been in use since 2004 Credit: Adam Mork
Turrell is famous for his use of light-filled installations in big spaces Credit: Morten Fauerby
The extension is hoped to propel the art museum to global fame Credit: schmidt hammer lassen
21 Oct 2015
Aarhus' urban regeneration continues with opening of €280m Dokk1 cultural space
28 Oct 2014
Eco-designed Moesgaard Museum opens at new location
18 Sep 2014
Aarhus Island designs revealed by Bjarke Ingels
The worlds of art and architecture are collaborating in the Danish city of Aarhus, where an ambitious expansion of the city’s modern art museum is underway. Danish studio schmidt hammer lassen architects are working with acclaimed American artist James Turrell to extend the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum; a project which is intended to propel it “into the the world elite museums". The €30m (US$32.3m, £21.2m) expansion - called ‘The Next
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