Kim Utzon Architects - Henry Dunker Culture Centre

Kim Utzon Architects
Henry Dunker Culture Centre
Helsingborg, Sweden

Photo: arcspace

The Henry Dunker Culture Centre is situated in Norra Hamnen, Helsingborg's newly developed northern harbour area, with magnificent views of the sea.
Arriving by boat the two curved roofs, that house the stage tower and concert hall, become a continuation of the ocean waves.

Photo: Torben Eskerod

Recognizable Utzon trademarks are the slender white columns, supporting the structure, and the "additive" system of skylights, placed like periscopes on the roof, letting diffused light into the building.

Photo: Torben Eskerod

Kim Utzon won the design competition with his entry, "The town by the sea", inspired by the close relationship between the town and Øresund; the strait between Denmark and Sweden. The Centre opened to the public on April 27, 2002.

The building, one of the largest cultural centers in Scandinavia, houses a new international art museum, a town museum , a concert hall, with a panoramic view of the Øresund strait, a smaller "black box" theater, a restaurant, a café and a museum shop. The Centre is also the home for Helsingborg's School of Music with access to practice and recording rooms for 3000 students.

Photo: Torben Eskerod

To insure maximum harmony with the other buildings along the harbor Utzon took great care in his selection of materials; the framework of the building is made up of prefabricated concrete elements, the facing bricks of the exterior walls have a finely rendered surface that has been finished by scouring with sacking and then coated with white paint, the roof is clad in titanium-zinc sheeting.

Photo: Olga Oesterling

The facade overlooking Sundstorget is a typical urban facade in sharp contrast to the sculptural facade on the harbor side.

Photo: Bertil Hagberg

Photo: Torben Eskerod

The plan was inspired by the medieval town, with a central square connecting all the public activities, and all administrative functions in the surrounding wall.
The lobby is light and airy with raw painted walls, visible ceiling insulation, blue ceramic tiles, black iron railings and sand colored concrete and Siberian lark tree on floors and stairs.
Stairs, elevators and three levels of interior sky lit corridors connect all functions.

Photo: arcspace

Light pours into all areas of the building from large windows, skylights and the interior courtyard. The flexible gallery spaces are purposely kept with the only daylight coming from the north facing "periscope" skylights.

Photo: Torben Eskerod

An octagon skylight on the roof of the restaurant functions as a sundial during the daytime. A separate Bistro is located at ground level.

Photo: arcspace

The interior vaulted ceilings in both the 350 seat concert hall and the 170 seat theater are clad in laminated birch wood.

Photo: arcspace

Photo: Bertil Hagberg

Photo: arcspace

With Utzon's choice of materials, and the emphasis on the light and the sea, the Dunker Cultural Centre is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian architecture traditions.

Photo: arcspace

Kim Utzon received the Swedish "Concrete Prize" 2002 for Dunkers Cultural Center.

Sketch courtesy Kim Utzon Architects

Drawing courtesy Kim Utzon Architects

Plan Lobby Level

Drawing courtesy Kim Utzon Architects

Elevation South Facade

Drawing courtesy Kim Utzon Architects

Longitudinal Section

Completed: 2002

Total floor area: 16 000m2
Area for activities: 10 600 m2
Exhibition area: 3 200 m2

Client: Kärnfastigheter, Helsingborg

Architect: Kim Utzon Architects
Project Team:
Martin Hahn
William Rose
Morten Paustian
Børge Nissen,
Malene Ib Andersen
Jesper Ravn
Jeppe Utzon
Lars Schwartz

General Contractors: Skanska Sverige AB

April 14, 2003





				Features
		Kim Utzon Architects Henry Dunker Culture Centre Helsingborg, Sweden Photo: arcspace The Henry Dunker Culture Centre is situated in Norra Hamnen, Helsingborg's newly developed northern harbour area, with magnificent views of the sea. Arriving by boat the two curved roofs, that house the stage tower and concert hall, become a continuation of the ocean waves. Photo: Torben Eskerod Recognizable Utzon trademarks are the slender white columns, supporting the structure, and the "additive" system of skylights, placed like periscopes on the roof, letting diffused light into the building. Photo: Torben Eskerod Kim Utzon won the design competition with his entry, "The town by the sea", inspired by the close relationship between the town and Øresund; the strait between Denmark and Sweden. The Centre opened to the public on April 27, 2002. The building, one of the largest cultural centers in Scandinavia, houses a new international art museum, a town museum , a concert hall, with a panoramic view of the Øresund strait, a smaller "black box" theater, a restaurant, a café and a museum shop. The Centre is also the home for Helsingborg's School of Music with access to practice and recording rooms for 3000 students. Photo: Torben Eskerod To insure maximum harmony with the other buildings along the harbor Utzon took great care in his selection of materials; the framework of the building is made up of prefabricated concrete elements, the facing bricks of the exterior walls have a finely rendered surface that has been finished by scouring with sacking and then coated with white paint, the roof is clad in titanium-zinc sheeting. Photo: Olga Oesterling The facade overlooking Sundstorget is a typical urban facade in sharp contrast to the sculptural facade on the harbor side. Photo: Bertil Hagberg Photo: Torben Eskerod The plan was inspired by the medieval town, with a central square connecting all the public activities, and all administrative functions in the surrounding wall. The lobby is light and airy with raw painted walls, visible ceiling insulation, blue ceramic tiles, black iron railings and sand colored concrete and Siberian lark tree on floors and stairs. Stairs, elevators and three levels of interior sky lit corridors connect all functions. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Light pours into all areas of the building from large windows, skylights and the interior courtyard. The flexible gallery spaces are purposely kept with the only daylight coming from the north facing "periscope" skylights. Photo: Torben Eskerod An octagon skylight on the roof of the restaurant functions as a sundial during the daytime. A separate Bistro is located at ground level. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace The interior vaulted ceilings in both the 350 seat concert hall and the 170 seat theater are clad in laminated birch wood. Photo: arcspace Photo: Bertil Hagberg Photo: arcspace With Utzon's choice of materials, and the emphasis on the light and the sea, the Dunker Cultural Centre is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian architecture traditions. Photo: arcspace Kim Utzon received the Swedish "Concrete Prize" 2002 for Dunkers Cultural Center. Sketch courtesy Kim Utzon Architects Drawing courtesy Kim Utzon Architects Plan Lobby Level Drawing courtesy Kim Utzon Architects Elevation South Facade Drawing courtesy Kim Utzon Architects Longitudinal Section Completed: 2002 Total floor area: 16 000m2 Area for activities: 10 600 m2 Exhibition area: 3 200 m2 Client: Kärnfastigheter, Helsingborg Architect: Kim Utzon Architects Project Team: Martin Hahn William Rose Morten Paustian Børge Nissen, Malene Ib Andersen Jesper Ravn Jeppe Utzon Lars Schwartz General Contractors: Skanska Sverige AB April 14, 2003