Ragnarock - The Museum for Pop, Rock and Youth Culture

Ragnarock is Denmark's new museum for pop, rock and youth culture. The museum is clad in dramatic golden studs and sits among old warehouses in a former industrial neighbourhood in Roskilde, outside of Copenhagen. The project transforms the area into a district for rock music, by adding a new cultural building on top of the existing structures - the Ragnarock museum - housing exhibition facilities, auditorium, offices and a bar. With a gold studded facade, velvety red interior and cantilevered auditorium, the building creates an exciting play between old and new embodying the essence of rock music. The sustainable aim has been to protect and preserve as much of the existing industrial history as possible to make sure the raw character of the site stays intact. The museum clicks into place between the existing buildings, using them as a spatial resource for a new contemporary landmark.

Ragnarock is intended as a catalyst for the future development of the creative district Musicon in Roskilde. Ragnarock is the first phase of the larger Rockmagneten masterplan, created by COBE and MVRDV, which looks to transform the Musicon area and its existing factories into a district of rock music whilst adding three new buildings: the completed Ragnaock, a new folk high school and the HQ of Roskilde Music Festival. The site has a unique identity and contains strong architectural spaces that require a special empathy in the industrial context. The aim of Ragnarock has been to create a sustainable and experimental architecture, which can put the new district on the global map. Thus, it has been important in the design of the building, to create an inclusive and innovative museum, which can serve as a focal point in Musicon. Rock music has inspired the architecture of Ragnarock with extravagance and glamour as key words translating the special energy and image of rock into architecture. This is shown e.g. in the golden studded exterior almost identical to the studs on a studded belt and in the red, velvety interior, which reminds you of the soft velvet inside of a guitar case.

Golden anodised aluminium studs cover the entire façade of Ragnarock. The façade and separation of materials enhances the contrast between the new museum and the old industrial warehouses. These contrasting elements lend character to both the museum and the rest of Musicon, transforming this former concrete factory into a new icon of Roskilde, deeply rooted in the industrial heritage of the site. The light metal skin is a central feature of both the interior and the exterior cladding and is an apparent reference to the area’s industrial past. The raw and robust expression from the existing warehouses set in contrast to the golden new extension, and the special treatment of the light metal skin creates an iconic building. The exhibition space cantilevers 20 meters across the red carpet entrance creating a covered urban living room and entrance area, which can serve as a stage for events and concerts. The cantilever defies gravity and guarantees to have a physical impact on anybody standing under it or in it – hovering over the ground in the exhibition. The foyer of Ragnarock is not only the entrance to the museum, but also acts as an entrance to the entire Musicon area.