Review: Designmuseum Danmark

Building a museum from scratch is a Herculean endeavor, but renewing a legacy museum is no easy feat either. In summer 2022, the DesignMuseum Danmark reopened its doors after a two-year renovation, its most exhaustive since it introduced its Ivar Bentsen and Kaare Klint–designed spaces to the public in 1926. This reimagining, helmed by the local firm OEO Studio, imbues the historic building with contemporary ideas but leaves room for Klint and Bentsen’s legacy, from the vintage lamps that line the rooms to the tiny design details seen in every corner, even the locker rooms. That juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship and modern concerns is also evident in the museum’s displays: Its historical collections (tsubas, snuffboxes, and plenty of chairs) sit alongside exhibitions that address contemporary global challenges like climate change. Finally, no visit is complete without an amble through the museum’s courtyard garden, with its linden trees and sculptures, and a visit to its gift shop, packed with books and ceramics you’ll want for your home.