The Copenhagen Harbour Museum showcases an extensive archive of drawings, watercolours, photographs, videos, models and essential stories about the harbour of Copenhagen, illustrating the important role that it still plays today. On display are many ideas of the harbour that were never realised that gives an insight into a Copenhagen waterfront that could have been.

The exhibition key concept draws from the original material found in the Harbour Master’s archival loft at Nordre Toldbod. The original furniture has been reused and forms the approach to the exhibition design in the upcycling of existing archive furniture elements. The original red stained timber is used throughout giving reference to the existing attic truss structure as well as brass details that parallels to the original building. A large archive wall composed of eight of the original large storage cupboards form the core of the exhibition where guests can have a direct relation with the way the original archive material was stored as well as access the drawing material digitally via a touch screen.

The red colour of the exhibition podiums is continuous and runs along the walls and sets the tone for the space on the ground level. The podiums contain a curated selection of drawings, films and objects from the archive. They are are also specially designed for programmed activities, learning stations and media interactive experiences.

On the first floor, a new archive has been created where the inventory was also designed with a view to reusing the beautiful original furniture from the attic. The red colour embraces the room in the form of a back wall and forms spaces where the original furniture is incorporated and made available for the public. The space can also function as a social gathering point for holding lectures and other communal events.