Click on images at left for larger color views. The Glass Museum in Ebeltoft, Denmark focuses on contemporary art glass. To house the museum's large collection, as well as to provide for temporary exhibitions and events, the museum hired Aarhus-based 3XNielsen. Their design links a linear wing to the existing museum (the former Customs and Excise House by Hack Kampmann). The wing reaches towards the west and the sea (floor plan) and a stand-alone workshop in the SW corner of the site. As can be seen in the image at left, the siting and massing of the building preserve views of the bay from the original museum and the town beyond. These decisions also accomplish a couple other important things: bring light into the galleries via generous glazing on the wing's south facade and create a generous outdoor space that can become an extension of the galleries for display of large pieces but primarily for events. The approach to the museum and the entry in its new wing is a unique experience. With the entry set parallel to the sea, one is always aware of the presence of water, reinforced by as one traverses the reflecting pool in front of the museum. The north facade also differs greatly from the south, here primarily solid (white brick) with narrow glass openings, in an effort to conserve heat in the northern climate and increase the impact of the garden-facing elevation. The double-height space inside is characterized by predominantly white surfaces. Warm wood stairs stand out amongst the white and light, as does the art. The architects strove for a blending of art and architecture, a frequent goal of many museums these days but not an easy task, as it takes a good curator as well as a good architect. Here, the exhibitions use the architecture in interesting ways -- like using the wide columns as display space -- that highlights both. It's a good model for museums: a symbiosis where art and architecture work together rather than against each other towards an enriching experience.   Glass Museum in Ebeltoft, Denmark by 3XNielsen A/S 2006.10.30     Click on images below for larger views.