Gehry to Design Jutland Hotel
Sønderborg, a small city of 30,000 in southern Jutland, will be home for a hotel designed by the legendary Canadian architect, Frank Gehry.
City officials hope the project will attract tourists in the same way Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao revitalised the sleepy Spanish city, reports daily newspaper JydskeVestkysten.
Gehry's work could very well have a similar effect for Sønderborg, according to architect Kim Utzon, son of the world-famous creator of the Syndey Opera House, Jørn Utzon.
'Gehry is quite big - amongst the top five biggest in the world today.
Getting him to design a building in Sønderborg is a fantastic opportunity.
Not just for Sønderborg but for all of Denmark,' said Utzon.
The head of the Danish Architecture Centre, Kent Martinussen, was also enthusiastic about the project, but warned that expectations needed to be realistic as to the attention the new hotel could draw.
'I would like to caution about believing that money will just begin to flow in.
It's not enough to have a world-famous architect.
There also needs to be a comprehensive strategy.'
Martinussen noted, however, that Sønderborg already has the Danfoss Universe science centre and a branch of the University of Southern Denmark to attract visitors.
Two local business people, Asger Gramkow and Bjarne Rasmussen,
design news
mobile.dexigner.com/news
© 2008 Dexigner Design Portal
www.dexigner.com