The Charm of Louisiana

A present-day museum could be expected to go beyond mere presentations of its holdings. More has certainly been shown by Danish museums and, in particular, by the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which has cast a new light on the role of these venerable cultural institutions.

From its very front door, Louisiana's message is that museums need not to be all that venerable and dignified. This gem of present-day museology welcomes its visitors without a sign of pretentiousness. It brings us into an old 19th century Danish home overgrown with ivy and surrounded by trees. As birds chirp in the background, nothing suggests that a few steps away, hiding behind the vegetation, is a huge ultramodern museum complex housing a vast collection of contemporary art. Moreover, when discovered, its modernity proves to be friendly, blending perfectly with the surrounding landscape and nature.

In effect, visitors negotiating the modern glass, wooden and concrete interiors feel as if they have never left the park. The museum's interior and exterior are both filled with natural light and vegetation. Some of the exhibitions have been moved under- ground, allowing for the above-ground pavilions to remain one-story and fuse seamlessly with natural slopes that descend straight into the sea.

But Louisiana is not only the site of exhibitions and good architecture. It is also a space to rest and meet people, both formally and casually. As a venue for concerts, lectures, meetings and conferences of all kinds, the museum bustles with life all year round. Yet, on an average day, visitors can feel at ease. They are free to leave the exhibits at any time, have a bite to eat or simply lie down on the grass under a tree. Cafes and bars with a view of the sea await guests. Beautiful views of the Sund Straight and the museum's atmosphere attract not only connoisseurs of art. Designated areas have been prepared for children - play rooms, drawing studios, and a separate section of the park with its own lake.

Magdalena Sztolberg