'When preserved architecture creates space for new life'
A pop-up exhibition that conveys how the award-winning library spaces have been created at Royal Danish Library in Aarhus. This is a part of Architecture Day.
The exhibition
Visitors can explore how relocating the library’s server room created the opportunity to add an extra floor for user areas. In heaps of quotes, you can read excerpts from the answers that users gave to the questions 'What would you like to add if we gave you more space?' and 'If you had to preserve one thing in the library, what would it be?'. Before watching a timelapse of the Library Garden growing in 1 minute, you can explore the ideas behind the two main architectural concepts that underpin the renovation.
If you are more sensuous and tactile, you can immerse yourself in a table with material samples or notice the texture of the curtains that were used as a mock-up for lighting in Tænkepausen. A series of photographs shows the spaces before and after the renovation. The exhibition concludes with the RenoverPrisen award statuette and graffiti artwork on the wall, commemorating the celebrations held when the award was received.
Visit the exhibition
'When preserved architecture creates space for new life' can be experienced in Tænkepausen at Royal Danish Library in Aarhus from 3-17 October.
Photo: Gitte Bomholt
Architecture Day
Architecture Day is an international day of celebration that focuses on the importance of architecture for our society, everyday life and future. The theme for 2026 is 'Preserve More'. A headline that focuses on the transformation, renovation and reuse of existing buildings rather than always building new ones.