Opening in 2025 – The Next Level with The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell.
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
A completely new ARoS experience on the way
The Next Level is an extension of ARoS, consisting of various elements: the monumental artwork The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell, an underground exhibition gallery of approx. 1,000 square metres, and an open-air art square, all offering new immersive experiences. With this next level, ARoS opens a multifunctional exhibition space with extraordinary possibilities for fresh public engagement.
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell
With a ceiling height of 15 metres, a diameter of 40 metres, a view of the infinite sky, and an interior illuminated by changing coloured lights, The Dome will offer a unique art experience. The Dome will be the largest Skyspace in the world within a museum context, and it cements ARoS’ position as one of the leading museums in the field of light, space and colour.
James Turrell. Photo: Morten Faurby
About James Turrell
James Turrell works with light, colour, and spatial installations. He has created permanent works in over 26 countries, the most famous being Roden Crater - an extinct volcano in the Arizona desert that is now the world’s largest work of art. Turrell’s Skyspaces, with their observation of the sky transiting through aperture, time and space offer the viewer an uplifting, spiritual, and sublime encounter with natural phenomena framed by exquisite, minimal architecture to produce an experience of intense contemplation.
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FAQ – The Next Level
Who is behind The Next Level?
Aarhus Municipality is the developer.
ARoS has developed the idea for The Next Level. The project is designed by Schmidt/Hammer/Lassen Architects with Morten Schmidt as architect in charge (SHL also designed ARoS and Your rainbow panorama).
James Turrell is the artist behind The Dome, which is part of the Skyspaces series.
Where will it be?
South of ARoS on Officerspladsen. The extension will be connected to the existing building with an entrance from ARoS level 3.
What does it look like?
The extension project consists of a 1000 square metre underground gallery, the giant work Skyspace by James Turrell, which has a ceiling height of 15 metres and a diameter of 40 metres.
In addition, a square will be built, to be called Art Square. The square will be a platform for art and culture.
How big will it be?
The Next Level consists of several elements: an underground exhibition gallery of 1000 square metres and the giant work Skyspace by James Turrell. The Dome will offer a unique international art experience with its 15-metre ceiling height, 40-metre diameter, a view to the infinite sky, and an interior space illuminated by changing coloured light. The Dome will be the largest skyspace of its kind in the world.
What is the construction schedule?
Groundbreaking will take place in June 2022. The final project is expected to be completed in 2025, when it will also open to the public.
What construction risks will the museum's neighbours, visitors and passers-by be exposed to?
There will be unavoidable construction nuisances. We are used to year-round construction at the museum for demolition and exhibition construction, and impacts of this magnitude are what we expect inside the museum. During construction, the entrance to ARoS from Officerspladsen will be closed and visitors will be directed to the entrance from ARoS Allé instead.
The parking area will be reduced to make room for the construction site and its traffic. This mainly concerns the bus stops. The traffic coming from the construction site will be from trucks and excavators. They will enter via Frederiks Allé and leave via Aros Allé.
The construction of The Next Level will not involve any sheet piling, which is normally the noisiest part of a construction site. So you won't be able to hear the constant banging that many people associate with construction.
Work on site will take place between 7.00 am and 6 pm.
How much will the project cost?
The total budget is approximately DKK 200 million and is supported by the Salling Foundations, the New Carlsberg Foundation, Aarhus Municipality and an anonymous donor.
Can you still visit ARoS during the construction process?
ARoS is fully accessible to the public during the construction process with changing exhibitions, various events and access to the ARoS Shop, the café and the Orangery. That said, the museum will be affected while construction of The Next Level is underway, but it is an investment that, we are confident, will benefit ARoS, the public and the city as a whole.
Culture and Citizens’ Services in Aarhus Municipality is the client for the project, which is developed in collaboration with Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects and ARoS.
This project is supported by:
- Ny Carlsbergfondet
- Salling Fondene
- Privat anonym donation
- Aarhus Kommune