New meets old in the extension and renovation of the distinctive Skagens Museum

The interaction of the extension with Plesner’s old museum building and the characteristic street spaces required special care. Brøndums Hotel and Skagens Museum lend the street a special atmosphere and character. The task was to preserve this impact. So the extension shrinks back from the street and the gable motif forms a sculptural, yet still visible background. Consequently, the Museum’s visibility is enhanced in the streetscape, the new forecourt discreetly indicating that something is happening here, and the simple design of the extension makes the old Plesner building more of a feature in the public space.

The physical areas of contact that the new extension shares with the existing building are an important part of the project. Wherever new meets old, respect is called for. It is always a special spot in a building. In this project we established a delicate, transparent glass connection, which at two points creates contact between the new building and the existing one. The glass buildings keep within the existing volumes, thereby playing a subordinate role and creating a natural connection zone.

The height and distinctive horizontal lines of the existing main building are transferred into the new extension, while the roof shapes and slopes are a new take on the Skagen saddle roof tradition. In other words, the basic principles of the extension are a combination of traces of history and modern interpretations.