Tham & Videgård Design New Building for Denmark's Krabbesholm Højskole School of Art & Design

Written by James Taylor-Foster

Recently awarded first place in an invited competition, Tham & Videgård's (T&V) design for a new addition to the Krabbesholm Højskole School of Art & Design in Skive, Denmark, uses a combination of thick brick walls and barrel arched roofs to establish a strong connection to the character and spatial qualities of the existing buildings - the Four Boxes Gallery by Japanese Atelier Bow‐Wow, and a collection of new studio buildings by New York‐based MOS Architects.

Tham & Videgård Design New Building for Denmark's Krabbesholm Højskole School of Art & Design - Facade, Arch, Arcade — Interior Space. Image © Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

The school, founded in 1885, has an international direction focussing on five main subjects: Fine Arts, Architecture, Graphic Design, Product Design and Photography. The main building, known as Krabbesholm’s Mansion, dates from 1565. T&V's contemporary addition is organised around a covered entrance courtyard with direct access to the separate teaching studios. Taking into account the ordinary wear and tear of daily school life, the architects' choice of durable materials and finishes, as well as the treatment of daylight, are "tailored according to the requirements of the teaching activities of the school."

Tham & Videgård Design New Building for Denmark's Krabbesholm Højskole School of Art & Design - Arch — Sections. Image © Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

The new building replaces two existing barracks from the 1960s, using the same footprint, so that "the spatial asset of its close relation to the neighbouring houses can be preserved and developed." Brick walls are opened up to provide views and connections within the new premises as well as outwards to its surroundings. "Arched roofs made of glulam wooden beams create spacious interiors filled with light to establish a direct relationship between the construction and space."

Tham & Videgård Design New Building for Denmark's Krabbesholm Højskole School of Art & Design - Beam — Interior Space. Image © Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

According to the competition jury, T&V's "proposal is formulated with a distinct and elaborate architectural language which includes clear references to the university’s other buildings and simultaneously stands out with its own distinctive identity. The building volumes, the covered courtyard complex and the choice of materials and treatment of daylight are further proof of a precise understanding of the requirements teaching activities and the daily life of the school impose on the new building."