So Danish! is reopening, with new architectural highlights and a celebration of the best of Danish design
Press contact
Johanne Troelsgaard Toft, Senior Press Officer
jott@dac.dk
+45 6142 1927
After the previous success, Danish Architecture Center is reopening the national architecture gallery So Danish! on October 7, 2024 with exciting new additions. The exhibition, which has attracted over 225,000 visitors since 2023, now allows visitors to delve even deeper into Danish architecture – from the opulence of Baroque to the simple lines of modernism. You’ll meet the design icons and style periods that have shaped Danish and international architecture.
The So Danish! exhibition presents the history of Danish architecture, from the Viking Age up to today. Architecture has always played a central role in society, everyday life, and the quality of life. It also has an important part in education, cultural understanding, and our common future. The exhibition gathers the narrative of Danish architecture in one place.
Masterworks of Architecture: From Baroque to Modernism
The updated exhibition features new architectural influences and focuses on impressive Baroque buildings such as the tower of the Church of Our Savior and Eremitageslot (Hermitage Palace), as well as timeless works of late classicism such as Faaborg Museum and Copenhagen Police Station. Moreover, visitors can explore the influence of modernism, with iconic buildings such Badeanstalten Spanien in Aarhus and Det Grønne Funkishus in Copenhagen, showing how Danish architecture has shaped modern society. The exhibition also reveals the hot projects in Danish architecture right now – from climate adaptation projects like the Karens Minde Akse in Copenhagen, to transformation projects like the Quay Tower in Sydney, and projects based on biogenic building materials like the World of Volvo in Gothenburg.
“We’ve listened to our visitors and expanded the exhibition with examples from the style periods and design icons that have generated the most interest – from Baroque opulence to modern sustainable design,” says Senior Curator Jesper Værn.
Danish Design Icons and Everyday Design
Architects shape our world, but some of their ideas and lines are more radical than others. This strong tradition stems from a Danish understanding of architecture as an art form that contributes to a better quality of life. This tradition dates right back to 1754, when the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts was established with a course in architecture.
Audiences are especially thrilled to learn more about the great Danish architectural icons. The exhibition showcases some of the most famous design works from Arne Jacobsen, BIG, and Jørn Utzon. Experience Arne Jacobsen’s total design in SAS Royal Hotel or see how BIG has helped shape Copenhagen as a globally recognized sustainable city.
Another new addition to the exhibition is a section on everyday design, highlighting much that impacts our daily lives, from small, overlooked details like Danfoss thermostats to iconic products like PH lamps. There are designs dedicated to children, where classics like Kay Bojesen wooden figures are presented alongside modern designs for children’s rooms.
With these new additions, So Danish! will now be even more dynamic, connecting the architecture of the past with innovative solutions of the future. Explore the many exciting architectural narratives and be inspired by Danish design and building traditions.
The So Danish! exhibition has been developed by Danish Architecture Center.
The exhibition has received funding from Realdania, the A.P. Møller Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation and Dreyers Fond.
See more at https://dac.dk/udstillinger/so-danish/
Press contact
Johanne Troelsgaard Toft
Senior Press Officer, Danish Architecture Centre (DAC)
jott@dac.dk
+45 6142 1927
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About Danish Architecture Center
Danish Architecture Center (DAC) is an international cultural attraction that creates engaging experiences and generates debate about architecture and design. At DAC, you can experience exhibitions, tours, events, and buy design products. You can also enjoy the spectacular view of the city from the café’s large rooftop terraces.
The financial basis is a public-private partnership between Realdania and the Danish government, represented by https://em.dk/the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs,https://em.dk/https://kum.dk/https://kum.dk/ the Ministry of Culturehttps://im.dk/, and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Senior Citizens.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to all the collaboration partners who have contributed to the exhibition:
Aarhus Theater – Architectmade - Arnejacobsen.com – BIG Architects – Carl Hansen & søn – Carsten Hoff – C.F. Møller – Cobe – the Danish National Art Library – Dissing+Weitling – dline – Flemming Skude – Fritz Hansen – Gentofte Municipality – Helgi Toftegaard – Henning Larsen Architects – House of Finn Juhl – Jan Gehl – Johansen Skovsted Arkitekter – Kay Xander Mellish – Kompan – Kristine Virén – Kvadrat – Lauge Floris – Louis Poulsen – Lundgaard & Tranberg – Mads Quistgaard – Mater – the Museum of Copenhagen – Muuto – the National Museum of Denmark – Ole Hein – Ole Søndergaard – Petersen Tegl – Radisson Collection Royal Hotel – Realdania By & Byg – Ringkøbing Fjord Museer – Roskilde Domsogns Menighedsråd – Rundetaarn – Schmidt Hammer Lassen – Agency for Culture and Palaces – Takt – Thomas Roland - Utzon Center – Vilhelm Lauritzen Arkitekter – Vola
Facts about the So Danish
- The So Danish! exhibition is a great starting point for insight into what Danish architecture is, what makes it special, and where we are heading.
- The exhibition opened for the first time on March 24, 2023 during the inauguration of HRH The Crown Prince (now HM King Frederik X) and is Danish Architecture Center’s first permanent exhibition on Danish architecture. On October 7, 2024, a re-curated version will reopen with even more cases, architecture narratives and a section focusing on iconic Danish design.
- The exhibition includes photos, text, audio narratives, films, installations, objects, and sample materials.
- Exhibits include models and plaster casts taken from the ceiling of Christiansborg. Beautiful historical models from the Danish National Art Library that are rarely displayed, including Arne Jacobsen, Jørn Utzon, the trumpet tower from Kronborg Castle, and two clay sketches of the Marble Church. Recent models include BIG’s model of VIA 57 West in New York, Cobe’s model of the Silo in Nordhavn and Johansen Skovsted’s model of the tower in Tipperne bird sanctuary.