An exhibition hall with daylight and ventilation
Set among twenty hectares in southern Denmark, a moat and renaissance fountains charm visitors as they walk the grounds of Egeskov Castle.
Staff welcome the public year-round to enjoy classic cars, fashion and motorbike exhibitions. But this is far from all that’s on offer, today historic 16th century grounds host Europe’s largest camping and outdoor museum.
Director of Egeskov Castle, Henrik Neelmeyer, says VELUX Commercial were chosen to provide and install a continuous polycarbonate rooflight solution as part of the new exhibition hall. Henrik wanted a daylight solution to fill an exhibition space dedicated to the outdoors with natural light.
Building with daylight in mind
Egeskov Castle has partnered with Dansk Camping Union to showcase the future of outdoor camping as a lifestyle and give a traditional retrospective. Henrik also wanted a flexible daylight solution that meets today’s performance requirements, inclusive of thermal control and smoke, heat and exhaust ventilation (SHEV).
After a conversation with contractor Poul Rasmussen A/S, VELUX Commercial’s continuous polycarbonate rooflights were selected as the perfect product for this new build due their robust nature and design flexibility.
“It was important that the finish and product have both quality and intelligent design. When the contractor suggested polycarbonate continuous rooflights, I told him I will buy them.”
A bespoke daylight solution to connect visitors with the outdoors
VELUX Commercial provided Henrik and his team with a complete service—from product specification to rooflight installation. Continuous polycarbonate rooflights met Henrik’s project budget and provide a striking feature when visitors walk in this 16-metre-tall building. A tailored polycarbonate daylighting solution, at a pitch of 42 degrees, was swiftly designed, built and craned on to the roof of the exhibition hall.
“It is no secret that the whole process has been time sensitive, no one has built a museum in such a short space of time—we hosted exhibitions as soon as the final rooflights were installed,” Henrik said.
When it gets warm inside the building, windows can be opened for comfort. The rooflights also provide smoke and heat exhaust ventilation in the event of a fire. This functionality fulfils Egeskov Castle’s safety needs and compliments a safety in mind approach when choosing a specific daylight solution. Smoke sensors were also installed by VELUX Commercial.
Creating a wow factor environment for visitors
Choosing VELUX Commercial as a daylight partner required clear communication with both contractor and rooflight installer for the duration of the project. Coordinating deliveries and careful planning at each stage played an important role on a timely completion.
“There was very good dialogue with the contractor,” Henrik said, “but also with VELUX Commercial.”
Today this camping and outdoor museum can accommodate up to one thousand people.
“The first thing people say when they come inside and look up is, ’wow,’ Henrik said.