Natural History Museum
A new visitor experience
As part of the development of the new museum facility in the Botanical Garden, a competition for the interior design of key visitor areas was held, including the new public galleries, entrance areas, café, shop, and dedicated learning and event spaces.
In collaboration with Engel Architects, Alex Poulsen Architects has developed a visionary interpretation for the new 400 sqm entrance area, forming a key component of the 2,000 sqm overall project. The design aims to harmonize with the museum’s identity, offering an experience that is both immersive and universally accessible.
Facts
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Architect
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Natural History Museum
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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2,000 m²
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Not executed, competition 2023
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MEE Studio, Engel Architects
Exploring history through design
The proposed material palette - featuring natural stone and wood - acts as both sculptural and fragmented elements, shaping the space into an ordered yet organic environment. These materials encourage visitors to explore and engage, creating a seamless connection between the museum’s narratives and its physical surroundings.
A key focus of the design is universal accessibility, ensuring that all visitors, regardless of ability, can experience the museum without barriers. The layout, materials, and spatial flow have been meticulously planned to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Scalable narratives: spaces within spaces
The concept introduces human-scale caves formed from natural stone, creating immersive rooms within rooms. These intimate spaces provide a more dynamic way to engage with the museum’s storytelling, allowing visitors to discover exhibits in layers, much like uncovering history itself.
Each cave-like space features a bespoke lighting concept, enhancing the atmospheric depth and drama of the experience. Meanwhile, the entrance hall’s lighting design combines strategic spotlights to highlight exhibition objects with minimal glass pendant lamps, which elevate the ceiling height and add a poetic, floating expression to the space.
Sustainability as a storyteller
The museum’s commitment to sustainability is deeply embedded in its material choices. Natural stone and wood not only provide aesthetic and structural integrity but also serve as physical imprints of history, embodying natural erosion and the passage of time. These materials, rich in texture and narrative, aim to inspire curiosity, encouraging visitors to deepen their journey through the museum and its collections.
A space where history and architecture converge
The new interior concept for the Natural History Museum offers more than a functional entrance space - it serves as an immersive gateway into the museum’s world of discovery. Through a thoughtful interplay of materials, form, and light, the design enhances the visitor experience, ensuring that the museum remains a place of wonder, learning, and exploration for generations to come.
