ISHØY/DENMARK: The Art Island – ARKEN – is the realisation of a dream that dates back to the museum’s foundation of creating better harmony between the museum’s characteristic maritime architecture and the surrounding landscape.

The Art Island, – ARKEN at Ishøy, Denmark., illustration: Møller & Grønborg

The initial idea was for ARKEN to be located on the beach, like a shipwreck. But this idea had to be abandoned for conservation reasons, and the museum was then moved inland.

Now, thanks to a generous donation from the A.P.Møller and Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation for General Purposes, the dream of surrounding ARKEN with water is about to become reality.

Transition from nature to culture

Architect and planning company Møller and Grønborg, which is managing the project together with Schul Landskabsarkitekter, is working with transitions – from nature to culture, from the wild to the sophisticated, from the physical to the spiritual.

The Art Island – Arken

Three road bridges, two pedestrian bridges, lagoons, woodland, dunes and diverse planting will be the main elements of what will be a changing and informal scenery surrounding ARKEN. The dense thicket towards the sea will be removed, and the dunes will be pulled up to the lagoon to create a wonderful and permanent view of the beach from ARKEN’s café. It will also be possible to kayak around the museum and thus see ARKEN’s maritime architecture from the water.

ARKEN’s new landmark

Parking will be placed outside the island, while the museum’s front area will be on the island itself

. A welcome bridge will lead visitors to the museum, and the bridge will be built diagonally on ARKEN’s main axis so that the entrance becomes a dynamic and dramatic transition from nature to culture.

In the area in front of ARKEN, Elmgreen & Dragset’s tremendous equestrian statue of a cheering boy on his horse will greet guests as the museum’s new landmark.

Sculpture park in the pipeline

Long-term the plan is to set up a sculpture park around ARKEN. This will consist of sculptures that involve visitors in various ways – sculptures you can enter, climb or go through, sculptures that you can move, turn or continue working on.

The sculpture park will be an extension of the museum’s idea of involving and engaging visitors – and to continue playing with the visitors’ own creativity
.

This Sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset, Powerless Structures, will welcome cisitors to the museum ARKEN. Here photographed when it was exposed at The Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, London. Photo: James O Jenkins

Project phases

First phase: Removal of thicket, bushes and trees. In February the actual building site will be set up, and digging begins for the lagoon that will surround the museum.

Second phase: The foundations for the three road bridges are laid, and the concrete and driving work begins.

Third phase: Entrance bridge and pedestrian bridge are built.Clearing of the existing pavement outside the museum will continue through the summer, when asphalt and wooden sleepers will also be laid.

Fourth phase: Gravel and asphalt work, bridge building and planting. The Art Island is expected to complete in November. It will be offisielly opened 24th January 2016.