3XN Wins Cultural Project in Aarhus

Danish firm 3XN Architects has won an architectural competition to transform the former freight train halls in Aarhus, Denmark into a new and dynamic cultural center. The winning design was part of an collaboration effort with Nord Arkitekter, Hans Ulrik Jensen A/S, Exner Studio, and Søren Jensen Engineers.

A new cultural hub for scenography, visual arts and literature will soon be constructed within a historical framework in Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus. The new cultural center is meant to be an inspiring setting that stimulates production of the arts and facilitates the interaction amongst the various artistic metiers, business, and education.

The winning proposal adds elements of nature, with green spaces injecting a natural raw quality which plays up to the historic nature of the existing halls which were used for rail freight in the past.

The building is expected to be a flexible space with optimal usage of more than 9,000 m2. The project is comprised of the renovation of the existing freight halls along with a new building with rooms and large scale auditoria. 

The roof of the building will appear as an extension of the green space – and indeed will take the form of a green ‘carpet’ over the new building. There are a number of other green initiatives that will be brought to the project – primarily with a view to reducing the building’s electricity needs for ventilation, pumps and lighting.

Images: 3XN