SMK Thy and The Nature Village at Doverodde Købmandsgård
At the edge of the Limfjord in Northern Jutland, Denmark, Doverodde Købmandsgård is being transformed into a new cultural and landscape destination. Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter has designed two closely intertwined projects for the site: SMK Thy and the Nature Village, together forming a new meeting point between art, landscape, and community.
The historic merchant estate at Doverodde is one of the region’s most significant cultural heritage environments. The project builds upon the site’s existing structures and spatial qualities, carefully transforming the former trading complex while preserving its historic character. Through a strategy of adaptive reuse and minimal intervention, the architecture reactivates the ensemble of warehouses around a courtyard, and harbor spaces while opening them towards the fjord and the surrounding landscapes of Thy.
SMK Thy, a satellite of the National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen, introduces a ticketing office, a main exhibition building, a coverted grain silo as well as public facilities within the historic fabric of Doverodde Købmandsgård. Rather than replacing the existing structures, the design emphasizes restoration, repair, and reinterpretation. Original materials and construction elements are preserved and reused wherever possible, allowing the buildings’ layered history to remain visible. New architectural additions are conceived as precise and contemporary insertions that clarify circulation, improve environmental performance, and frame views towards the water and the open landscapes beyond.
Adjacent to the museum, the Nature Village extends the cultural program into the surrounding terrain. Conceived as a small cluster of pavilions and shared spaces, the village supports nature-based learning, outdoor activities, and overnight stays. The village is composed of a wooden shipyard, fire pit sheds, kayak storage, a scout cabin and more. The architecture is deliberately modest in scale and rooted in local building traditions. Structures are constructed using robust, low-impact materials, with timber and reused components forming a tactile palette that resonates with the agricultural and maritime heritage of the site.
Together, the museum and the Nature Village create a unique meeting point between international art and everyday encounters with nature. Visitors can experience works from Denmark’s national art collection while stepping directly into the landscapes that surround the site. The project places particular emphasis on children and families, offering easily accessible nature activities, outdoor learning environments, and informal spaces for exploration. Art, landscape, and play become part of a continuous experience, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and discovery across generations.
Material reuse is a central principle throughout the project. Elements from the existing buildings such as timber structures, brick, and stone are carefully dismantled, restored, and reintegrated into the new interventions where possible. This approach not only preserves the character of Doverodde Købmandsgård but also reduces the environmental footprint of the transformation.
Landscape plays an equally important role in shaping the visitor experience. Paths, courtyards, and outdoor rooms connect the museum, the harbor, and the Nature Village, creating a sequence of spaces that encourage movement between art and nature. The design strengthens the relationship between the historic estate and the surrounding coastal landscape, allowing the site to function as a gateway to Thy National Park.
Together, SMK Thy and the Nature Village establish Doverodde Købmandsgård as a new cultural destination where heritage architecture, contemporary art, and the unique landscapes of Thy meet in a shared and evolving environment.
