Klitgaarden Refugium has reopened after a long renovation period, during which Christian X's old royal residence in Skagen was renovated for millions.
After a major renovation, during which Klitgaarden was closed to guests, the doors are open again to researchers, writers, artists and others on retreat. The beautiful old property was previously owned by the royal family, but today functions as a retreat – and thanks to generous donations, it has been possible to renovate Klitgaarden, which, with its age and the sometimes harsh Danish climate, needed a refresh.
Great respect for skilled craftsmanship
Everything in the restoration process has been done with a deep respect for the history and architecture of the house and the preservation-worthy status of the property. Superintendent Helle Stenbakken has followed the project closely and talks about a process that has only strengthened her appreciation for skilled craftsmanship:
”"Although I have always had great respect for skilled craftsmanship, the project over the past seven months has only contributed to even greater respect. It has been a pleasure to sit in on the weekly construction meetings – it has also been educational! Now I know technical terms like "running dog", "drip nose" and "aggregate", to name just a few", smiles Helle Stenbakken.
The major renovation project consisted of many sub-projects. One of them was the collaboration with the color conservators. Conservation Center Nord found the house's original colors, inside and out:
”"The beautiful Skagen yellow and the deep rust red color that the foundation now has are both warm and material. Those colors, and the colors inside the house, are all the result of the work of the color conservators.".
The joy of preserving
The chairman of the Klitgaarden Foundation, Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen, also has difficulty hiding his enthusiasm about the royal villa's excellent maintenance:
”"A house as beautiful and unique as Klitgaarden deserves to be preserved for posterity. With the renovation, Klitgaarden can also be a place of great joy and inspiration for artists and scientists in the future - and a source of pride for the people of Skag.".
The project is supported by:
Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen's Foundation, AP Møller and Wife Chastine McKinney Møller's Foundation for General Purposes, Augustinus Foundation, the philanthropic association Realdania, the Obelske Family Foundation, the Spar Nord Foundation, the Sportgoods Foundation, and the Danish Agency for Palaces and Culture. A good DKK 13.5 million has been donated for the renovation.
Additional information:
Director of Klitgaarden Refuge Helle Stenbakken, mobile 30 60 03 30, helle@klitgaarden.dk
Chairman of the Klitgaarden Foundation Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen, mobile 20 10 58 37