Havnen goes Egypt

Bruun Rasmussen's online activities have outgrown their previous location, and the premises at Amerika Plads can no longer contain the ever growing number of items that are offered for sale every day. Therefore, the online auctions have now moved to a quite exceptional new domicile in Kalkbrænderihavnen.

Henceforth, Bruun Rasmussen previews will take place in Kim Utzon's beautiful and highly spectacular building of just under 3,000 square metres at Sundkrogsgade 30. Even from a distance, it is easy to see the adumbrated sphinx form upon which the building is based and the enormous pylons (the twin tower-like buildings flanking the entrances to Egyptian temples), framing the front of the building.

The anatomy of the sphinx
The building, raised in 2003,was originally meant for the United Exhibits Group and commissioned by the event-maker Teit Ritzau who was deeply interested in Egyptian art at the time. After a few years United Exhibits Group had to discontinue its activities, however, and Bruun Rasmussen acquired the building.

Early on, Kim Utzon anticipated that it would one day be necessary to make additions to the building. In his preliminary sketches, therefore, he also designed the supporting constructions for an inserted extra floor which is now constructed in the main hall in the stomach of the sphinx so to speak. All art items will be exhibited on the lower floor.

The administration will be housed in the forepart of the sphinx, where the two massive pylons – the shoulders and forelegs of the sphinx – will serve as stair turrets. In the uppermost part of the part of the building, in the head of the sphinx, is a conference room that Kim Utzon is particularly fond of. It stands out as lighthouse made of glass, divided into the twelve fields of the compass and with a marvellous view of the harbour.

The Egyptian inspiration

The building is inspired by the ancient Egyptian temples: "This was a wish from Teit Ritzau who was developing a major exhibition on Egypt at the time. And this was something that I could easily relate to, since I had recently undertaken a three week study tour in Egypt, following my final examination at the school of architecture. In Egypt, I saw some very strong installations, awfully beautiful stuff", Utzon explains.
"To me, it is the joy of working with heavy and strong elements that is reflected in the entire project. It was a major challenge to design a house that was at once entirely modern and inspired by the pyramids. There are obvious references to the temples in Luxor and Karnak, and there are small relief works that run across the pylons in small four-sided patterns – like the edging of a tablecloth. It was very exciting to work in massifs with a completely self-contained expression such as the pyramids while breaking with the transparent and the completely open expression down through the pylons."

Under construction

Utzon is pleased that Bruun Rasmussen now moves into the house:
"I think it is great that this very house, so fit for the purpose, becomes more public, more open. Now everyone can come in for a preview or to claim the items they have acquired at an online auction."

In general, Utzon is happy to see Kalkbrænderihavnen slowly develop into an environment filled with people and activities that are not restricted to the heavy harbour traffic, and he is convinced that it is merely a question of time before we will see housing estates, cafés and recreational areas out there.