A Gateway Through Time: Cubo Arkitekter Designs the New Main Entrance for The Old Town Museum in Aarhus

Project Title: Main Entrance for The Old Town Museum Architects: Cubo Arkitekter Location: Aarhus, Denmark Year of Completion: 2023 Built Area: 1,000 m² Photography: Martin Schubert, Helene Høyer Mikkelsen Lead Architects: Bo Lautrup, Per Preem Ravn, Ralf Wagner, Victor Josefsen Manufacturers Involved: HS Hansen, KlinkerOutdoor, Profile, ScandiBo, Swedoor, Tarkett, Vola

Introducing a New Cultural Threshold to Aarhus

In a transformative architectural move, Cubo Arkitekter has redefined the arrival experience at The Old Town Museum (Den Gamle By) in Aarhus, Denmark. The newly constructed main entrance building serves as both a symbolic and functional threshold that connects the contemporary city with a living representation of Denmark’s historical urban and cultural heritage.

Relocated to face the vibrant core of downtown Aarhus, this new entrance offers visitors an open and inviting welcome, drawing them into a curated journey through centuries of architectural and social evolution. More than just a point of entry, the building represents the museum’s commitment to accessibility, narrative depth, and urban integration.

Architectural Design: A Contemporary Dialogue with Heritage

Set at the nexus between the protected Botanical Garden and the historical museum grounds, the new entrance hall embodies both landscape sensitivity and architectural finesse. Nestled gently into the moraine-shaped topography of the garden’s southern edge, the structure demonstrates a thoughtful relationship with its natural context, echoing the principles of site-specific design.

A striking feature is the spatial connection with Anton Rosen’s 1909 pavilion, a protected architectural gem that now forms part of the entrance foyer’s interior dialogue. The design contrasts and complements this historical reference through an inverted roof structure, which becomes a defining sculptural and functional element in the overall composition.

Spatial Experience: Openness, Craft, and Civic Identity

Internally, the foyer functions as a generous public plaza — a covered, multi-use space that manages large visitor flows while offering clarity and openness. The expansive canopy roof doesn't just shelter; it defines the building's identity, enveloping visitors in a gesture of openness while subtly referencing traditional Danish forms and materials.

Craftsmanship is central to the design ethos. With detailed attention to timber, brick, glass, and metal, the architecture not only stands in harmony with its surroundings but also echoes the material richness of the museum’s own exhibits.

Connecting Cultural Landmarks in Aarhus

The entrance building also marks a critical point along Aarhus’ cultural spine, bridging the AROS Art Museum and Musikhuset Concert Hall with The Old Town Museum and the Botanical Garden. In this context, it acts as more than a building — it is a landmark within the city’s urban fabric and a connector of cultural institutions.

Completing a Vision: From the 1974 Quarter to 2014 Street

The completion of the new entrance is part of a broader vision for the museum’s future. It signals the culmination of an ambitious redevelopment that includes the establishment of the 1974 Quarter and the opening of the 2014 Street, expanding the museum’s storytelling into more recent urban history.

Architectural Significance

This project is a model of how contemporary museum architecture can respectfully embed itself within a historic and natural environment while offering forward-looking infrastructure. Cubo Arkitekter has successfully balanced function, context, and narrative, creating a gateway that is as meaningful as it is memorable.