Denmark: Odense to Build New Hans Christian Andersen Museum

In the course of urban development plans in the Danish city of Odense, the home town of fairytale-writer Hans Christian Andersen, a new museum will be built immersing visitors into Andersen’s imaginative worlds.

The already existing Andersen Museum, which highlights the writer’s life rather than his work, will be connected with the Tinderbox Cultural Centre for Children in one and the same enlarged attraction complex of some 5,600 square meters. Two-thirds of the expansion will be established underground to create a “magical garden” space to be explored by visitors. Kengo Kuma is responsible for the architectural direction – the Japanese architect convinced the jury in a project tendering, cooperating with the Danish firms Cornelius+Vöge Architects, MASU Planning Landscape and Eduard Troelsgård Engineers. The exhibition concept, which is the basis for the architectural work, is provided by the British Event Communications group.

According to Danish media reports, the fundraising has been completed recently. The total investment sum amounts to 305 million DKK (approx. 41 million EUR), the A.P. Møller Foundation takes part in the project with 225 million DKK (approx. 30 million EUR) and the city of Odense contributes some 60 million DKK (around 8 million EUR). The new Hans Christian Andersen Museum is scheduled to open in 2020. (eap)