Some time ago now I was on an architectural excursion in Aarhus with the school. As a student at AARCH we have to study architectural history. This walk was historical walk through the city and we got to see and hear about some of the significant buildings in Aarhus. This was also the same day my camera broke, which is part of the reason for the lack of new pictures here on the Native.
I thought I’d share the pictures I did manage to take on this trip before my camera died.
Aarhus Domkirke is a very old church. It was first build around year 1200. It has been a romanesque basilica which was the architectural style of the time. Later it was turned into a gothic cathedral. During the baroque periode the church got a new entrance in sandstone, it also had a rather comical onino-shaped roof on the church tower. During the 19th century it was customary to strive towards brining back the expression of the romanesque and gothic style. Thus the Baroque entrance and roof was removed and the tower extended.
The cityhall of Aarhus is drawn by Arne Jacobsen and was finished in 1941. Copenhagen had a great cityhall and in Aarhus they wanted one as well. The winning design was by Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller. Although the cityhall is very loved now, it was hated by many by the time it was build. The people of Aarhus didn’t find it monumental enough. A clock-tower was added.
The building is clearly functionalist and there is no detail within the building that Arne Jacobsen hasn’t carefully thought out.
If you are ever in the area I think both of these buildings are worth a visit.