CLAY - An architectural gem

A meeting between the historical and the modern - a meeting that is reflected both in the museum's unique collection and in the beautiful architecture

Grimmer house

The museum's entrance, café and shop can be found in the old mansion, which bears the name Grimmerhus. The house was originally built as a retirement home for Hindsgavl Castle (1856-57), which is located on the Hindsgavl Peninsula a few kilometers away.

The architect, Johan Daniel Herholdt, is also the man behind the University Library and Danmarks Nationalbank. Grimmerhus is built in historicist style and is inspired by 1500th century Italian villas.

Middelfart Municipality takes over the place in 1919, and after that the old mansion will function as a guest house, and numerous guests have over time enjoyed the beautiful surroundings on the edge of the Little Belt.

At the initiative of the international ceramics group CLAY Today, a museum and exhibition space for studio ceramics can be opened in the building in 1994.

The museum is rapidly growing larger and it is decided to expand the exhibition capacity.

CLAY Ceramics Museum Denmark

Grimmerhus is a listed building, built on the Little Belt, and adjacent to a listed forest area, which all places great demands on the architecture. After an architectural competition in 2009, the work will be placed in the hands of Kjaer & Richter A / S, which collaborates with architect Niels Frithiof Truelsen, Wad Landskabsarkitekter and Henry Jensen A / S Rådgivende Ingeniører.

Out of respect for the listed Grimmerhus, they choose a solution where most of the extension is built underground. This part is connected to the old building by an internal staircase. The architecture is harmonious and sculptural and inscribes itself in the Nordic tradition with simplicity in detail, clear and beautiful room flow and abundant daylight.

Both the underground and the above-ground part have large glass sections with a view of the Little Belt. The "above-ground" pavilion is clad with reversible, handmade bricks from Petersen Tegl A / S, which act as slats and can let in light inside or out as needed.

In the large exhibition rooms underground, you can experience works from the museum's unique collections, see changing special exhibitions and step into a "Treasure Chamber" of porcelain, faience and stoneware from the Royal Copenhagen Collection.

In May 2015, the extension and the renovated museum were inaugurated in the presence of HRH Queen Margrethe and got its new name: CLAY Keramikmuseum Danmark.

Updated by: VisitMiddelfart | mail@visitmiddelfart.dk