BIG transforms former supermarket building into a new Museum for Paper Art Denmark

BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group is set to transform a former supermarket building into the new Museum for Paper Art in the North Jutland region of Denmark...

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From the architect: With paper art deeply rooted in the Danish cultural heritage, including the iconic folded lampshades by Le Klint and H.C. Andersen's paper clips, the conversion and extension of the building intends to double the museum's annual number of visitors as well as embrace paper as an art form and expertise.

The Museum for Paper Art, founded by psaligrapher Bit Vejle in 2018, is the only specialised museum for paper fine crafts and design in the Nordics. The approximately 900 m2 former supermarket building will be renovated and expanded by BIG to create a 2300 m2 museum with space for workshops, events, teaching rooms, storage, and office facilities. The adaptive reuse project is pursuing DGNB Gold or Platinum certification.

“Paper art is deeply embedded in our cultural heritage, showcased through Denmark's paper art tradition with iconic designs such as Le Klint's folding lamps and H.C. Andersen's paper clips. Carrying this legacy into the future is something that this museum has at its heart. We are also proud of recycling an existing building.” - Karen Bit Vejle, Artist and Director at the Museum for Paper Art

The Museum for Paper Art is conceived as a new lightweight roof structure. Like a single sheet of paper, the roof lands on the existing building and creates space for the new functions around it - uniting the new and old under one roof. The existing building walls will get a new acoustic-regulating layer of paper art on the exterior, inspired by origami and designed in collaboration with several paper artists.

“Paper art is about creating three-dimensional shapes and complex images from a monochromatic two-dimensional material - a sheet of paper. By treating the roof surface as such - a single sheet of folded paper - existing and new functions are brought together in one unifying gesture. The expressive is accentuated by the clear, complexity arises from simplicity. And an obsolete supermarket finds new life under the floating curved roof." - Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group

Inside, the focal point of the museum is reflected in the architecture as surfaces are draped with a timber construction made from the wood that is used to make paper.

"In collaboration with Bit, we have designed a simple concept that allows a single sheet of paper to drape over the site and the existing building. In this way, the old and new are connected under one roof. In the foyer and assembly space, the old structure is clearly felt within the new one - a unified space inspired by paper and crafted in wood.”  - David Zahle, Partner, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group

The Museum for Paper Art will offer spaces for a variety of public activities. A meandering path with plants and trees native to the area will invite the public to explore the surroundings and create a welcoming public realm to pull the visitors into the museum.

Project Name: Museum for Papirkunst
Architect: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group
Client: Den Almennyttige Fond for Psaligrafisk Kunst
Location: Hune, Denmark
Year: 2024
Size: 2300 m2
Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels, David Zahle
Project Leader: Tomas Ramstrand
Team: Mantas Povilaika, Neele Maree Ohlrogge, Jesper Ullbing, Matthew Goodwill, Kai-Brith Kalda
BIG Sustainability: Kannan Selvaraj
Images: BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group