Nuuk – Who and above all Where? by Eva Herrmann | 30.04.2011

National Gallery of Greenland

A question that makes people nervous in private “Who wants to be a millionaire” circles. Since what or where is Nuuk? Looking it up on the iPhone clarifies things: Nuuk is the capital of Greenland, the world’s largest island, belonging to the arctic part of North America from a geological point of view, however, it’s an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark from a political perspective.  57,000 inhabitants are spread across 2,166,000 square kilometers of icy areas, summer in Greenland allows thermometers hardly go any higher than 61 degrees Fahrenheit.

Inspiring museum architecture

At this unpleasant neck of the woods the team of the BIG Bjarke Ingels Group was able to win the competition dealing with the National Gallery of Greenland.
The plot is located on a steep hillside allowing for a spectacular view across the fjord of Nuuk. Competitors had to hand in a design of a place collecting the culture of the Inuit with objects from arts and culture from various eras on a continuous basis and at the same time arousing the visitors’ interest oriented towards an international level. And all this under the roof of an inspiring piece of architecture which is supposed to be contemporary and home country related both at the same time.
Like a piece of land art the new museum integrates itself into its surroundings. The ring-shaped building has been adjusted to fit into the hillside and captivates visitors by opening the ribbon. The simple shape symbolizes the connection between landscape, topography and the unique location. Center point of the round shape is the inner courtyard where Inuit sculptures have been placed as main exhibits. Also from a museum didactical point of view the round shape is an advantage for the curator. Flexible use of areas, overlappings and a continuous exploration of the sculpture garden from various perspectives allows the realization of many different ideas.

Art meets function

In terms of shape and materials used the building is a contrast to the rather functional architecture the capital mainly consists of. No wonder, since the extreme environmental conditions and the rough scenery won’t allow any architectural twists and turns. Bright fair-faced concrete for the monolithic shell the weather is allowed to leave its marks on contrasts with the floor-level glass front within and the interior’s plain design. Let’s hope the architects haven’t underestimated the environmental conditions and the frameless views don’t turn into small peepholes.