MCH HERNING
TRANSFORMATION OF EXHIBITION CENTER
Although the MCH Messecenter in Herning is already the biggest exhibition centre in Denmark, that doesn’t hinder the plans for its future development from being very ambitious. URBAN AGENCY was invited to create a strategy that will make the complex a more attractive and coherent structure with a new focal point. The project aims to intersect two loops of circulation at the point of the new entrance to the building. The connecting routes are enriched by the presence of usable art (both permanent and temporal exhibitions) and plants (trees, green walls). The roof spreads over a circular space creating a unique event area, enhanced by versatile sloping ramps that are the perfect scenery for an outdoor concert but equally provide protection from unpleasant weather conditions. Landscape design of the central square prepares it for many purposes such as exposing a small glimpse of the main exhibition, realising the potential for an ice-skating ring or simply a resting place for its visitors. The building itself is an open volume with varying roof height alleviating all public flow issues. The centrally placed entrance with security zone welcomes guests and directs them accordingly to their desired destination; perhaps to a concert in the multi-purpose hall or a car exhibition in the main part of the complex. The ground floor provides visitors with a leisure zone, waiting area, ticket office and toilets, while on the first floor, overlooking both the main room and the event square area, a restaurant is also accessible from the outside ramps. The last part of the project is a promenade spreading between the designed building and the future Museum of Time located on the northern side of MCH. This public space called the River of Time is the main axis of the exhibition zone connecting most of the halls. It is a backbone of the whole complex which with its membrane roof and green landscape elements creates a friendly public area where tired guests can purchase a snack, rest for a bit and then continue their visit.
Size: 5.400 m²
Location: Herning, Denmark
Budget: 140 mill DKK
Client: MCH, Herning Kommune, Real Dania
Collaborators: Urban Agency, Aarhus Arkitekterne, Max Bögl, Norconsult
Type: Invited Competition
Status: IdeaTeam: Henning Stüben, Heechan Park, Philipp Ohnesorge, Jakub Śmiech
