Architecture in Aarhus

Trip details:

Accommodation: Airbnb (2 nights) 

Currency: Danish Kroner.

Visited in: March. 

Transport: Airport shuttle to the city. Walking around town mostly. There are trams too.

Food: Lots and lots of halal food! They have a very vibrant Muslim culture. 

Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, really doesn't seem like it's up to the title. It had none of the metropolitan hustle and bustle that I expected. In fact, in the two days that I was there, the city felt more like a quaint, countryside town. They had the smallest airport I'd ever visited in my entire life (Kuala Terengganu airport is bigger), and I couldn't find a single souvenir store. Everyone seemed chill, spending time at the outdoor cafes by the riverside, and enjoying jazz bars at night.

The best part about Aarhus was the artistic pulse of the city! It was the European capital of culture in 2017, and remnants of their artistic sculptures, colourful installations and festive flyers can still be seen. For an underrated location, the architecture is wild! I was blown away by sheer variety of experimental and iconic structures they had. Which is what I'm about to talk about in this post...B because seriously, if you're up to be impressed by the Scandinavian flair for design, Aarhus is well worth a visit.

1. The Iceberg

Designed by a collaboration of architects, The Iceberg is an apartment block that looks like, well, an iceberg. The funky triangular design is something straight out of some sci fi flick, and it's pretty interesting to view up close. We got a peek at the interior of some of the apartments, and I couldn't help feeling like they look as if they were Ikea showrooms - very simple, elegant, and compact. The blocks are designed in such a way that every apartment gets a view outdoors, either towards the sea, compound, or inland. We would've experimented and stayed here for a night but the airbnb price is expensive haha.

2. Dokk 1 Library

Who knew a library would be so cool?! I'm a huge fan of libraries (my undergraduate thesis focused on library design, lol), and when the interiors are so attractive: super chic furniture, well lit lighting fixtures, swanky wall panels, it's like a dream come true. Whoever said that academic buildings had to be structured and sterile are on the wrong side of history. Dokk 1 is located right next to the sea, it has playgrounds, conference theatres, and the best parking lot installation I'd ever seen. Elmgreen and Dragset's art installation 'Magic Mushrooms' was something straight out of Inception. I love the simple fact that beautiful and functional design can truly transform a boring space.

3. ARoS Museum

Unexpectedly, the ARos museum had a curation of a really impressive art collection. Original Warhol, that famous Boy sculpture by Ron Mueck, and they've even featured works by Korean artist Do Ho Suh. While we were there, we saw a screening of Shirin Neshat's Zarin, a documentary of a girl working as a prostitute in Iran who saw the men in her life as faceless (it was jarring, to say the least). But the cherry on top (hehe) for our ARos experience was getting to go through Olaffur Eliasson's Your Rainbow Panorama on the rooftop of the building. It's a wide, circular ring with different coloured glass panels and it's such a simple concept really, but made for such a fun walkabout. I'm a big fan of vibrant colours so this was right up the alley of things I'd genuinely enjoy. You hear a lot about colour psychology but to be walking through various hued spaces, way above the rooftops of the city, was an immersive, otherwordly feeling.

Entrance fee for the ARos museum is about 120K.

4. Salling Rooftop

An surprising delight (why do I sound like a hallmark card), and further cementing my love for birdseye vistas, was the Salling rooftop. It's basically a shopping mall with a rooftop bar. But the way it's been constructed just made all the difference. There are bleachers overlooking a bar (perfect for performances), an indoor cafe at the top, and even a glass floored bridge protruding right above the street below. The best part of it is that it's free to go up! We rested here for a while and had a cup of hot chocolate, enjoying the music, and taking in the seaside views.

5. Bonus: Greenhouse @ Science Museum &  Moesgaard Museum 

If you have time to spare, have lunch under the skylit atrium near one of the greenhouses of the science museum. The greenhouse is like a mini version of Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, and it's completely free. As for the Moesgard Museum, unfortunately, we did not have time to visit it - but our Airbnb host, Lisen, said it's highly recommended, especially if you're into history :D