The proposal designed by BIG for the new Museum for Paper Art, founded by psaligrapher Bit Vejle in 2018, will be the only specialised museum for paper fine crafts and design in the Nordics. The approximately 900 m² former supermarket building will be renovated and expanded by BIG to create a 2,300 m² museum with space for workshops, events, teaching rooms, storage, and office facilities. The adaptive reuse project is pursuing DGNB Gold or Platinum certification.
The Museum for Paper Art is conceived as a new lightweight roof structure. Like a single sheet of paper, the roof lands on the existing building and creates space for the new functions around it - uniting the new and old under one roof. The existing building walls will get a new acoustic-regulating layer of paper art on the exterior, inspired by origami and designed in collaboration with several paper artists.
Rendering. From Former Supermarket to New Museum for Paper Art by BIG. Image by Wizarch.
“Paper art is about creating three-dimensional shapes and complex images from a monochromatic two-dimensional material - a sheet of paper. By treating the roof surface as such - a single sheet of folded paper - existing and new functions are brought together in one unifying gesture. The expressive is accentuated by the clear, complexity arises from simplicity. And an obsolete supermarket finds new life under the floating curved roof."
Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.
Inside, the focal point of the museum is reflected in the architecture as surfaces are draped with a timber construction made from the wood that is used to make paper.
Rendering. From Former Supermarket to New Museum for Paper Art by BIG. Image by Wizarch.
"In collaboration with Bit, we have designed a simple concept that allows a single sheet of paper to drape over the site and the existing building. In this way, the old and new are connected under one roof. In the foyer and assembly space, the old structure is clearly felt within the new one - a unified space inspired by paper and crafted in wood.”
David Zahle, Partner, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group.
The Museum for Paper Art will offer spaces for a variety of public activities. A meandering path with plants and trees native to the area will invite the public to explore the surroundings and create a welcoming public realm to pull the visitors into the museum.
