The new Kangiata Illorsua – Ilulissat Icefjord Centre officially opens its doors to local guests. Designed by award-winning Danish architect Dorte Mandrup, the centre was created as a Danish-Greenlandic partnership between the philanthropic association Realdania, the Government of Greenland and Avannaata Municipality (home to Ilulissat). The purpose of the centre is to promote Greenland, and the development of the area, while educating visitors on the story of ice, nature and the impact climate change is having on the area.
Surrounded by dramatic icebergs and overlooking the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, the Kangiata Illorsua – Ilulissat Icefjord Centre strives to educate visitors about the unique natural and cultural history of the UNESCO-protected site, treating local tourists to a world-class experience and a trip of a life-time for those further afield once restrictions lift.
Palle Jerimiassen, mayor of Avannaata Municipality (home to Ilulissat), said: “The opening of the new Kangiata Illorsua – Ilulissat Icefjord Centre is an important milestone, offering a new gathering place for the local community as well as visitors. It will also promote local development by bringing in new jobs and making Ilulissat an even more attractive destination than it already is.”
The idea for the Icefjord Centre was first conceived in 2004 when the Ilulissat Icefjord was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the distinguished designation came an obligation to raise awareness of this unique location and to address this, in 2015, the Government of Greenland, Avannaata Municipality and the philanthropic association Realdania forged a partnership dedicated to building a world-class visitor centre that would tell the story of this incredible area and to raise awareness of this unique location.
Jesper Nygård, CEO of the philanthropic association Realdania, said: “The Icefjord and the area surrounding Ilulissat is absolutely unique. We’re thrilled that visitors can now experience this exceptional place, the beautiful nature, its history and the story of ice while enjoying breath-taking views of the Icefjord and a fascinating exhibition – all from a visitor centre that is itself a spectacular work of architecture. But this is also an important opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of climate change in a place where this is already leaving very clear marks on the landscape, and to promote local development in both Ilulissat and in Greenland at large.”
With its learning and storytelling activities, the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre is set to support the return of British tourism once travel restrictions ease. The Icefjord Centre is the first of six regional visitor centres that the Government of Greenland plans to establish over the coming years.
The centre represents Realdania’s second engagement with the area around Ilulissat Icefjord – in a previous Danish-Greenlandic partnership, the association’s subsidiary Realdania By & Byg restored two historical buildings from the 18th Century in the village of Ilimanaq to create a sustainable local basis for tourism and business development by bringing the architectural heritage to life and promoting the area as a destination.
