In 1937 the city of Aarhus, Denmark, declared a proposal by Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller the winner of a competition to design its new city hall. Comprising three massing blocks and a clock tower, the structure is an exquisite example of regional modernism and a testament to two men’s passion for detail.
The original plans—intentionally unmonumental—did not include a clock tower, but as local citizens watched the building take shape, they requested some sort of addition that would more forcefully signify the importance of the seat of their local government. The architects acquiesced, creating a 200-foot-tall volume that managed to perfectly complement—some would say improve—their original design. During World War II, Germany occupied Denmark beginning in 1940, but construction continued and the structure was completed in 1941. The building, which houses government offices and courtrooms, has been beautifully maintained over the years and never renovated—a perfectly preserved example of the designers’ intent.
