About
us
Danish Architecture Center (DAC) is an international cultural attraction for everyone who wants to experience and understand how architecture and design create the framework for our lives. We live in the heart of Copenhagen by the inner harbor in the spectacular building BLOX and are part of Copenhagen’s Cultural Quarter.
Every day we are in touch with architecture and design. But we are not necessarily aware of the great importance it plays in relation to how we live our lives – and live together. Did you know, for example, that architecture and design can help solve some of the world’s major challenges in relation to the UN’s World Goals?
We are passionate about engaging more people in the world of architecture. We want more people to notice the architecture in their surroundings, feel the joy of good design, and feel like discussing it over the dinner tables.
We are for children and adults, locals and tourists, architectural nerds and curious beginners. All of us who love sustainable cities with room for your own ideas and space for diversity. Through exhibitions, tours, events, learning and networking, we create space for inspiration, enjoyment and immersion.
We look forward to welcoming you to Danish Architecture Center!
Current exhibitions
See what exhibitions are currently on display.
Foundation
Vision
DAC aims to be a must-see international cultural attraction, relevant to anyone who wants to experience and understand how architecture and design create the framework for our lives.
Mission
DAC creates engaging experiences and debates about architecture, design and urban development through exhibitions, tours, events, learning and networking.
Values
Friction
We dare to surprise and provoke. We bring creative chaos that inspires critical thinking.
Newness
Many museums focus primarily on the past. We primarily look ahead and focus on what is to come. New opportunities, innovations and ideas
Openness
We are proud of our open, transparent and changeable environment. We are open to everyone and always open to new ideas.
Love
Beautiful cities, architecture and design evoke great emotions. Even love. We love the city and are genuinely passionate about all aspects of architecture and design. And we want to share that with everyone.
Connectivity
We work together and across. Gathers and connects people and disciplines. And always connected to our local and global environment.
Sustainability
At Danish Architecture Centre, we believe that architecture has a vital role to play in overcoming many of the great challenges of the future. We believe that these challenges must be solved in interaction with different professional perspectives and that we, by pooling our resources together, can achieve greater reach and effect. Therefore, we work as an open platform between citizens and professionals, culture and business, Denmark and the world. An open platform for co-creation, open innovation and democratic engagement that contributes to creating economic, social, and environmentally sustainable development – both in Denmark and internationally.
All of Danish Architecture Center’s activities reflect our core narrative and thus address issues of sustainable development be it handling the effects of the climate change, building to minimize the negative impacts of construction, or creating environments and buildings that are socially sustainable.
Recently we have begun the process of documenting Danish Architecture Center’s sustainability as part of a bigger value chain where we are suppliers, consumers, employers, and agents in many other ways that impact the UN Global Compact’s ten principles and the UN Social Development Goals (SDGs). We aim to be able to produce the first full report in our new framework in 2022.
DAC has been a member of UN Global Compact since 2008. Read our most recent Communication on Engagement
Organisation
Partnership
Danish Architecture Center is an international cultural attraction, interpreting architecture and design. We were established as a foundation, and our core funding is provided by a public-private partnership between the Danish government and Realdania, a for-profit charitable entity. The Danish government is represented by the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Senior Citizens.
Board of Directors
Danish Architecture Center is governed by a board of directors, consisting of six members and three employee-elected representatives. Board members are elected for a four-year term.
Management
Danish Architecture Center’s management team consists of Kent Martinussen, CEO, and Dorthe Weinkouff Barsøe, Vice-Director and COO. CEO Kent Martinussen is entitled to sign for the management.
Staff
Are you looking for a particular member of DAC’s staff? Click to go to a list of our departments and contact details for all our employees.
Finance
Funding
Danish Architecture Center was established as a foundation in 1986 by the then National Union of Danish Architects, the Danish Association of Architectural Firms, the Danish Association of Consulting Engineers, the Danish Contractors’ Association, the Danish Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Federation of Danish Industries.
As Denmark’s national architecture center, DAC receives an annual basic grant from the partnership between Realdania, the ministries of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Culture, and Transport and Housing.
The content of DAC’s activities is funded by Realdania, other donors and partners, and the center’s proceeds.
Download DAC’s most recent annual reports in PDF format (in Danish):
Good Foundation Governance
Danish Architecture Center’s board of directors has decided that the statutory report on good governance of commercial foundations should be publicly available on DAC’s website. The board regularly addresses amendments to current practice.
Danish Architecture Center has prepared a detailed report on how the foundation meets the recommendations on foundation governance.
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2022
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2021
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2020
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2019
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2018
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2017
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2016
Good Foundation Governance, DAC 2015