ANESMINDE VISITOR CENTRE

The three-winged farm Anesminde is being transformed into a new gathering and communication hub for travelers along the ancient Hærvej route, residents of Jelling, and the many visitors to the Jelling Monuments, which have been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1994.

FROM HISTORIC FARM TO CULTURAL MEETING PLACE

Anesminde is a classic Danish farm from the 19th century, gradually rebuilt and expanded over time. The farm tells the small-scale story of life in feudal Denmark and lies side by side with the grand historical narrative of Jelling, which during the Viking Age became a center of royal power and a monumental site symbolizing the unification of Denmark as a nation. With the new communication hub, a connection is created between the national narrative and the local cultural history.

TRANSFORMATION AND PRESERVATION STRATEGY

The project aims to preserve and highlight the local story of the traditional farm type, emphasizing its original function as a site for agriculture and livestock. The transformation builds on the physical traces left by generations of use, integrating them into the broader narrative of Danish agricultural heritage.

Each building is analyzed to identify particularly heritage-worthy elements and structures, which will serve as guidelines for future restoration. In the same way, the building physics characteristics, viability, and architectural heritage value of each building component are assessed with the goal of preserving and reusing materials and structures to the greatest extent possible. The client has set a clearly defined high sustainability ambition for the project, focusing on reuse and a low carbon footprint, supported by variant analyses through LCA and LCC.

NEW FUNCTIONS AND ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH

As a new gathering and communication hub, the buildings will accommodate interpretation and workshop spaces, lunchrooms, lounges, a kitchenette, restrooms, and winter storage for the ship Jelling Orm. The former feed master’s residence will be converted into guest apartments, intended for both short- and long-term stays by artists as well as overnight accommodation for hikers and cyclists traveling along the Hærvej route.

To minimize interventions in the existing structural framework, the “house-within-a-house” principle will be applied in several areas. This approach preserves the original identity and patina of the buildings, while introducing reinterpreted architecture that harmonizes respectfully with the historical character.

Windows and gates will be preserved and restored wherever possible. Where new elements are necessary, they will be clearly marked as additions — for example, by mounting them either on the inside or outside of the existing masonry. The colour scheme is based on the original materials and tones: black-painted wood and red-painted steel.

Anesminde is expected to be completed and open as a gathering and communication hub by summer 2026.

Culture

Transformation

Public

Private

Planning