Summerland architecture - the dream of the good life

The exhibition and the accompanying book, "Summerland Architecture - The Dream of the Good Life", is about the history of holiday cottage architecture. From Frederik 2.s small castle Lundehave, over Sophienholm as a country house from the early 1800s, to the primitive shelters of the millennium, intended for overnight in nature. Very briefly told. The development thus reflects the views of different periods and sections of society on the good life.

Exhibition and book, curated by mag.art. Nan Dahlkild, elaborates on historical developments in different parts of the country, and documents in drawings, sketches, photographs, paintings, models and various effects the many types of buildings and buildings from country houses, summer villas and type houses to holiday resorts, colony gardens and campsites.

The increased and constantly growing spare time the Danish population got with, among other things, the eight-hour working day in 1919 and the 1938 Holiday Act, has created its own social, architectural and landscape spaces with possibilities for different life forms as a form of close utopia. Cf. Arne Jacobsen's "tower" on Bellevue beach I Copenhagen. Possibility of a freer body culture, sun and sea bathing and an approximation to the good life. If not all life, then in "the free time" in the summer. Summer life can be seen as a free space for social, architectural and interior experiments that lead to more informal life forms and a lighter and brighter home culture.

In the coming years of development of the Danish summer land, there are many opportunities for nature, cleaner environment, sustainability, climate change and ecology. And there are many qualities to be found in the history of the Danish summer architecture, which contains an important building heritage. That is among other things what this exhibition documents.

The extensive and richly illustrated book that accompanies the exhibition has interesting contributions from six reputable professionals. It has been published at the Museum Tusculanum Publishing Company, can be purchased at the exhibitions for 200 kr. (Normal price 250 kr.). The exhibition is displayed in collaboration with Sophienholm and Faaborg Museum.