Theme: Multi-purpose cultural centres

A number of new multi-purpose cultural centres have seen the light of day in recent years. In large towns and villages, the buildings serve as informal meeting places, bringing together local communities for activities ranging from sport and meals to salsa and yoga.

Get the views of both a Danish researcher and the chairman of the National Association of Cultural Centres in Denmark on the new multi-purpose cultural centres.

Read an interview with the architect Erik Brandt Dam, who describes the process of transforming a former school into a sports and cultural centre, awarded with the Danish Retrofit Award 2017.

And get a number of exiting points from Robert Schmitz, partner and lead architect at White Architects. He is part of the team that has designed the award-winning Skellefteå Cultural Centre in Sweden.

Welcome to tomorrow’s community centre

New multi-purpose cultural centres are springing up, and according to two experts, we can expect to see even more. This places considerable demands on both architects and building technicians.

More about multi-purpose cultural centres >

Mixing culture and community

When designing a cultural center, it’s essential to create an inviting public space between the different cultural functions, says Robert Schmitz, partner and lead architect at White Architects.

He is part of the team that designed the award-winning Skellefteå Cultural Center to be a model for sustainable design and construction where all forms of culture live side-by-side.

Read the interview with Robert Schmitz >

Copenhagen church now a vibrant community centre

The award-winning community centre Folkehuset Absalaon is situated in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen. Teeming with life every day, this is where people of all ages come together for communal meals, yoga, dancing and cultural events.

More info and photos of Absalon >

School lives on as villagers’ own building

When the school in the Danish village Nr. Vium closed, the local residents bought the buildings without any plan for what they would do with them. With Erik Brandt Dam Arkitekter as committed consultants, they created an award-winning multi-purpose cultural centre, which is now a meeting place for the village.

Read the interview with Erik Brandt Dam >

Harbour of Culture

The citizens in the Danish town of Gilleleje have a new meeting place – a cultural centre which has been realised following close dialogue between local residents and Skovhus Architects.

See photographs and find out more

Prøysenhuset

The international firm of architects Snøhetta has designed the national cultural centre in Norway with wooden floors, Troldtekt ceilings and furniture in contrasting colours.

See photographs and read more

Skanderborg Fælled

The multi-purpose hall in the Danish town of Skanderborg is designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. The hall houses the police, Citizens’ Services as well as a hall for concerts and handball matches.

See photographs and find out more

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