Shared Archive Facility in Vinge with sculpted concrete volumes.

Shared archive facility for the Royal Danish Library and National Museum

A secure, cost-efficient repository for Danish cultural heritage

Shared Archive Facility in Vinge with concrete facade and loading doors.

A 21,000 m2 archive in Vinge near Frederikssund safeguards nationally significant collections with stability, security, and architectural clarity.

The Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces commissioned a new shared archive facility in Vinge near Frederikssund to store and protect cultural heritage objects for the Royal Danish Library and the National Museum. The collections demand strict climate stability, robust construction, and a high level of security. The client also required a very low cost per square meter, without compromising the building’s functional clarity or dignity.

AFRY Architects designed the facility in collaboration with DS Flexhal and Artelia. The result is a purpose-built repository that balances technical performance, cost-efficiency, and an architectural expression that reflects the cultural value of its contents.

High-bay storage racks inside Shared Archive Facility in Vinge.

Design shaped by context and function

Set at the highest point of the terrain, the building overlooks the surrounding cultural landscape.

The massing is divided into four distinct volumes of varying heights, which reduces the overall scale and gives the complex a clear, legible profile.

This approach supports both operational clarity and a respectful presence in the landscape.

Shared Archive Facility in Vinge seen beyond yellow flowering fields.

A robust and refined envelope

The building uses light concrete elements to achieve durability and thermal stability. A concave front slab on the façade creates a soft, varied shadow play, emphasizing the logic of the construction system. The concave surfaces recall the fluting of classical columns, subtly connecting the architecture to the Royal Danish Library and the National Museum’s collections, and to the broader currents that have shaped Danish culture.

Meeting demanding technical criteria

Behind the calm exterior, the facility integrates the stringent requirements of archive storage: stable internal climate, controlled logistics, and high-security performance. The design process prioritized technical success criteria from the outset, with close collaboration between architects, engineers, and contractors. The façade elements, for example, were developed in partnership with the contractor’s manufacturers to optimize performance, simplify assembly, and ensure precision.

Shared Archive Facility in Vinge with patterned concrete facade and landscaping.

Clarity through simplification

To meet the modest budget per square meter, the team focused on optimizing and simplifying architectural components without sacrificing function. This disciplined approach ensured the building stays within budget, delivers the necessary environmental stability and security, and maintains an architectural presence aligned with its role as a repository for national treasures.

Aerial view of Shared Archive Facility in Vinge at sunset.

A humble yet expressive civic asset

The completed facility reflects its purpose: a secure, efficient, and dignified place for safeguarding cultural heritage. Its restrained form and material expression communicate the building’s role while ensuring it performs reliably for the institutions it serves.