New Hans Christian Andersen Museum by Kengo Kuma Opens in Odense

A new museum dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in collaboration with Danish studios Cornelius+Vöge and MASU Planning, will open on June 30 in Odense, Denmark, the author's birthplace. The project cost 390 million Danish kroner and spans 5,600 square meters, surrounded by a 7,000-square-meter park. Kuma's design aims to embody the duality found in Andersen's tales—real and imaginary, natural and artificial, light and darkness—creating a labyrinthine space with seemingly disconnected rooms to be discovered step by step. The museum will not simply communicate about Andersen but serve as a spokesperson for his literary universe, offering more questions than answers about his romantic childhood, unresolved love life, and constant search for belonging. Twelve international artists have created site-specific installations for the museum, including Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveiras with a monumental arboreal installation inspired by "The Tinderbox," and British puppeteer Andy Gent with creations based on "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Little Mermaid," and "The Little Match Girl." Danish composer Louise Alenius has crafted an immersive soundscape to narrate the fairy tales. The surrounding garden, designed to reflect Andersen's perception of nature, features towering hedges creating magical, mysterious paths, blending dark and luminous elements.