The Gurre Bunker
This is one of the more unusual and interesting decorations. The government bunker was constructed in 1961 during the Cold War in deep secrecy. During its renovation in 1992-3 it was decorated by Poul Gernes who was compelled to sign a statement never to divulge its location. The bunker with a floorage of 670 m2 was planned to accommodate eighty people, including government and royal couple, in the event of nuclear war. Through an apparently insignificant shed in Gribskov Forest, you descended into underground corridors and rooms that were maintained until 2013 when the bunker was abandoned and closed.
Then, we saw a total decoration intact – a brilliant example of Poul Gernes’ work in 1992 under optimal conditions, with walls, cabinets, chairs and even wastepaper baskets. Linoleum for the floors was custom-made in blue, green, red, yellow and orange. Welding seams between differently coloured linoleum fields were red and blue. There were custom-coloured fabrics for cushions and chair covers. Splendid large, stylized flowers grew right up through the stairwells. Coloured ”belly bands” ran like ribbons through the corridors. As a special refinement, the doors were furnished with numbers that lacked logical order.
Finn Thybo Andersen: Poul Gernes Decoration Projects. London 2018, p. 206-8. Translated by Dan A. Marmorstein. Excerpt.
