Located on the site of Denmark’s largest World War II refugee camp, the new Refugee Museum of Denmark, FLUGT, tells the stories of refugees from the camp as well as refugees worldwide.
At 1,600 square meters (about 17,220 square feet), the museum was designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and exhibition designers Tinker Imagineers. Together, they adapted and extended one of the camp’s few remaining structures—a hospital—into the museum.
“FLUGT seeks to give a voice and a face to humans who have been forced to flee their homes and capture the universal challenges, emotions, and nuances shared by refugees then and today,” Claus Kjeld Jensen, museum director, said in a statement.
The former hospital comprises two long buildings. BIG connected the two structures by adding a soft curve-shaped volume, which serves as a welcoming structure and creates 500 square meters (about 5,380 square feet) of additional museum space. From the outside, the volume welcomes visitors into a seemingly closed entry hall. But inside, a floor-to-ceiling curved glass wall reveals a sheltered green courtyard and the forest, where the refugee camp used to be. From the entry hall, which functions as a lobby or a temporary exhibition space, guests continue to one of the museum wings.
The north wing’s exhibition area contains gallery spaces organized according to the hospital’s original flow. The south wing includes a flexible conference room, smaller exhibition spaces, cafe, and back-of-house functions.
“We went into this project with all our heart to address one of the world’s greatest challenges—how we welcome and care for our fellow world citizens when they are forced to flee,” Bjarke Ingels, founding partner, BIG, said in the statement.
Related Stories
Sponsored | | Mar 21, 2014
Kameleon Color paint creates color-changing, iridescent exterior for Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral
Linetec finishes Firestone’s UNA-CLAD panels, achieving a one-of-a-kind, dynamic appearance with the first use of Valspar’s new Kameleon Color
| Mar 20, 2014
Common EIFS failures, and how to prevent them
Poor workmanship, impact damage, building movement, and incompatible or unsound substrate are among the major culprits of EIFS problems.
| Mar 13, 2014
Do you really 'always turn right'?
The first visitor center we designed was the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center for the Everglades National Park in 1993. I remember it well for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the ongoing dialogue we had with our retail consultant. He insisted that the gift shop be located on the right as one exited the visitor center because people “always turn right.”
| Mar 12, 2014
14 new ideas for doors and door hardware
From a high-tech classroom lockdown system to an impact-resistant wide-stile door line, BD+C editors present a collection of door and door hardware innovations.
| Mar 5, 2014
5 tile design trends for 2014
Beveled, geometric, and high-tech patterns are among the hot ceramic tile trends, say tile design experts.
| Feb 24, 2014
New Menil Drawing Institute will fit in with leafy surroundings
In Houston, plans are being finalized for the first freestanding American building built to house and conserve modern and contemporary drawings.
| Feb 18, 2014
Robert A.M. Stern sent back to drawing board for Revolutionary War museum in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Art Commission has suggested some significant changes to the design by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, namely the elimination of a cupola and the addition of eye-level windows on the ground floor.
| Feb 14, 2014
Giant interactive pinwheel adds fun to museum exterior
The proposed design for the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History features a 10-foot pinwheel that can be activated by passersby.
| Feb 14, 2014
Crowdsourced Placemaking: How people will help shape architecture
The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.
| Feb 13, 2014
Extreme Conversion: Nazi bunker transformed into green power plant, war memorial
The bunker, which sat empty for over 60 years after WWII, now uses sustainable technology and will provide power to about 4,000 homes.
