Danevirke Museum

The historic fortress of Danevirke is known as Northern Europe’s largest ancient fortification monument and a UNESCO world heritage site. The new museum is a new entrance to this unique archaeological border complex. The elongated earthwork which was originally built to protect the border to Denmark is today a unique landscape, which serves as an inspiration and starting point for the design.

The museum shapes itself towards the cultural landscape and its ramparts while framing the historical views. By lowering the museum into the ground, it becomes a natural extension of the landscape, while new perspectives are created - centered around the incredible history of the place.

The historic Danevirke fortification is a central part of the self-understanding and narrative of Danishness, not only for Danes themselves, but for the Danish minority living in present-day Germany. For centuries Danevirke was the only passage between the Frankish Empire to the south and the Danish kingdom to the North. The site marks the beginning of Denmark as a nation. It does so both as an impressive archaeological site, and with its architecture, that draws outlines of the Danish kingdom far back in history. It is also an integral part of the events of 1864, when Denmark’s survival was suddenly and violently at stake, in a war of territory with Germany.

Today, it is the site of an important museum in the middle of an archaeological park, where the history of the area is intertwined with great stories about the beginning of the Danish kingdom and the wars over the Schleswig territory. Danevirke is also a natural place for the Danish minority to visit and to mark larger celebrations.

The elongated Danevirke, which was originally built to mark and protect the Danish border, visible today as a subtle hill, is a unique landscape of defensive earthworks with surrounding open fields as far as the eye can see. The starting point for the new entrance portal to this unique archaeological park must naturally emphasize the qualities of the landscape as a framework for the incredible scope of history present in this place.

The museum merges into the historical earthwork by lowering itself into and aligning with the landscape. A large and sculptural roof enters into a dialogue with the topographical geometry of the ramparts, and an intimate space is created between the ramparts and the building.

The museum merges into the historical earthwork by lowering itself into and aligning with the landscape. A large and sculptural roof enters into a dialogue with the topographical geometry of the ramparts, and an intimate space is created between the ramparts and the building. In this way, the ramparts remain the main attraction. The landscape is allowed to flow effortlessly all the way up to the museum and can be experienced from its interior.

The ambition of the museum is to enter into a dialogue with the historical defense structure, to conform to, but also to frame the landscape. The story is conveyed through the architecture, creating a flexible framework for the exhibition in the museum. New perspectives of the landscape are created from its sunken level.