Mimicking the unearthing of archaeological sites, Henning Larsen Architects' recently opened museum has a planted roof that slopes upward out of the landscape. The Moesgaard Museum, located in Aarhus, Denmark, houses a collection dedicated to prehistory and ethnography.
The building is partly underground and its roof slopes more steeply than the surrounding terrain to create an angular section. The roof is covered in grass, moss, and flowers, and contains apertures that form terraces and allow natural light to enter exhibition spaces below.
Near the top of the roof, a horizontal section juts out to form a lookout point that provides views of the surrounding countryside and Aarhus Bay, according to Dezeen.
In mild weather, the roof can be used for outdoor events such as picnics and barbecues. In the winter, it will provide an excellent sledding spot.
As for the museum's interior, it is a terraced space equipped with a 750-square-meter foyer that spans the entire building and includes a cafe. The lower galleries, which hold a permanent exhibition dedicated to Denmark's Viking history, have 12-meter ceilings that can accommodate recreated Viking towns and burial mounds.
All photos: Jens Lindhe, courtesy Henning Larsen Architects.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
High-profit design firms invest in in-house training
Forty-three percent of high-profit architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have in-house training staff, according to a study by ZweigWhite. The 2008-2009 Successful Firm Survey reports that only 36% of firms overall have in-house training staff. In addition, 52% of high-profit firms use an online training system or service.
| Aug 11, 2010
Help Wanted: Architect for $100 million 'Discovery Park' in Union City, Tennessee
The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation is identifying architects interested in designing a 50-acre, multi-million dollar complex in Union City, TN. Discovery Park of America will be a world-class, multi-faceted venue presenting exhibits and interactive experiences about history, nature, art, and science.
| Aug 11, 2010
Report: Fraud levels fall for construction industry, but companies still losing $6.4 million on average
The global construction, engineering and infrastructure industry saw a significant decline in fraud activity with companies losing an average of $6.4 million over the last three years, according to the latest edition of the Kroll Annual Global Fraud Report, released today at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston. This new figure represents less than half of last year’s amount of $14.2 million.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIA to Congress: Act now to jump start building sector of economy
Tampa-based architect, Mickey Jacob, FAIA, unveiled the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Rebuild & Renew plan for both short- and long-term economic recovery to the House Committee on Small Business at a hearing October 7th.
| Aug 11, 2010
National Intrepid Center of Excellence tops out at Walter Reed
SmithGroup and The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF), a non-profit organization supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families, celebrated the overall structural completion of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), an advanced facility dedicated to research, diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, HDR top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 100 largest institutional building design firms
A ranking of the Top 100 Institutional Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Walt Disney Family Museum planned in San Francisco
Construction is under way on a new museum dedicated to the man behind the Disney empire. Set to open this fall in San Francisco, the Walt Disney Family Museum will feature 10 galleries, starting with Disney's beginnings on a Missouri farm.
