Museum of Copenhagen

The old public guardianship building, now the Museum of Copenhagen, is packed with details that reveal the care shown to people in need in the 1800s.

On the corner of Stormgade and Vester Voldgade stands a building from the 1800s. Designed by Hans Jørgen Holm, it is so rich in detail that you could easily spend an entire visit to the Copenhagen Museum focusing on the building alone. For many years, all these details were hidden behind suspended ceilings and plaster walls that were installed for practical reasons over time. But they eventually emerged as museum staff, architects and conservators worked their way into the building during the restoration process to modernize the city museum, which also houses the workshop that handles finds from archaeological excavations.

A Remarkable Investment

Traces of the building’s past have been preserved. It was originally built as the premises for the public guardianship authorities that looked after the money belonging to the city’s under-aged or missing. The office of public guardianship was established just as industrialization took hold and Copenhagen was growing exponentially with people flocking to the city for work. For many workers, it was a hard life, living like sardines in tiny apartments in the dark, slum-like courtyards of the new inner-city neighborhoods. So it is remarkable to note how much was invested in a building built to protect the money of vulnerable people. Whether it’s the bricks in the wall or the fittings of a door-knob, the craftsmanship and detailing makes one think that the task of guardianship was considered rather important.

Handmade Craftsmanship

The building was designed during a period of architectural history when there was little agreement on which style and aesthetic choices were best for a city with a new cosmopolitan outlook. Among those who made their mark on the city at the time was Hans Jørgen Holm. Like his contemporary Martin Nyrop, who had just submitted his proposal for the design of Copenhagen City Hall, Holm incorporated Danish craftsmanship traditions and references to Scandinavian history and fauna into his designs. There are hand-drawn grooves in the bricks of the outer wall, and inside the building, you can see hand-painted details that clearly reveal the human touch in the lines.

Women and Children in Stained Glass

Like Copenhagen City Hall, the old public guardianship building is also a Gesamtkunstwerk (ideal work of art). There is a connection and a meaning in even the smallest detail. One popular detail are the three keys permeating throughout the decor of the house as a symbol of responsibility. And when you step inside the building, you can’t help but notice the stunning stained glass window depicting children and women and reminiscent of the task once undertaken here. It was created by artist Agnes Slott-Møller, who used herself and her children as part of the motif to symbolize the care that was at the heart of the building’s functions. Around 30 years later, child welfare services also moved into the building, so the stained glass must have meant many things to many people over the years.

Near the Museum of Copenhagen

From the Museum of Copenhagen, it’s a short walk to Copenhagen City Hall, where you can spend time interpreting the many stories embedded in the details and decor of the building. It’s also home to the Copenhagen City Archives, which holds 750 years of historical documents.

The museum if part of Copenhagen Cultural District, where you’ll also find the National Museum of Denmark, Christiansborg Palace and Thorvaldsen’s Museum, to name but a few.