ICOMOS welcomes changed plans for the Viking Ship Hall
Following the 2019 ICOMOS Heritage Alert, issued in response to the delisting of this internationally recognised modernist exhibition hall and the political pressure to demolish it in favour of a new museum building, ICOMOS welcomes recent indications that plans for such demolition have changed. The winning design of the architectural competition, selected from among 5 proposals, for a new museum that also preserves the existing hall was published on 11 January 2024.
ICOMOS Denmark and the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on 20th Century Heritage (ISC20C) are pleased and appreciative that the winning project seeks to embrace both the ideas put forward by conservation advocates and the goals of a new museum component for the site. Embracing history, accommodating contemporary needs and desires, and contributing to a sustainable future for a modern architectural heritage site of international significance are all worthy goals.
The winning scheme proposes a separate new hall with modern exhibition facilities for the five Viking shipwrecks, while the old hall is to be preserved, although partly altered and used for changing public events. Both buildings will be surrounded by a new landscape design.
The original concrete structure of the old hall, including the large roof lights and the transparency of both facades, are to be conserved. The competition brief suggested a new public pathway on the waterside of the original hall. Fortunately, such a feature has not been included in the winning scheme. The restored and adapted Viking Ship Hall will retain most of its important relationship with the water’s edge and the undisturbed view from the hall onto the sea.
The open fjord-side landscape, the sea and a lawn around the Viking Ship Hall – which was used to store reconstructed ships during winter - as well as a pathway with complementary concrete pedestrian lighting were all included in the former listed property. The original pathway and entrance of the building will be radically altered, but the winning scheme respects the historically significant open space around the hall by locating the new museum building at a distance from the old hall.
Another important feature of the winning proposal is the transformation of the surrounding landscape into a salt marsh with plants that can withstand the regular flooding from the fjord of Roskilde. New and reconstructed watercourses will ensure the drainage of the site after flooding and heavy rainfall. The modification of the landscape is not only in harmony with the natural landscape, but also provides adaptation to the most pressing challenges brought by climate change to the museum site and the surrounding coastline.
Ongoing situation monitoring
However, according to the museum, the funding to conserve the historic hall has not yet been secured. The approach to the future use of the original Viking Ship Hall and the recognition of the site’s cultural significance will be important factors as the project progresses. ICOMOS Denmark and the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on 20th Century Heritage congratulate the competition winners and express appreciation to the competition jury for their thoughtful selection.
ICOMOS Heritage Alerts are an advocacy tool designed to constructively raise awareness of threats to sites of international importance in the context of local, regional and/or national pressures for, among other, demolition or irreversible character altering actions. ICOMOS’ goal is to provide its internationally recognized professional input in order to encourage thoughtful and respectful conservation, taking into account present as well as future needs and aspirations.
ICOMOS considers the winning scheme for the Viking Hall to be an important example of successful advocacy for the inclusion of conservation as a core component of a wider development objective that can be applied internationally.
The winning scheme by the team at LT Architects can be seen on their website.
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