Norway is set to open a striking new whale museum on the island of Andøya, where its dramatic architecture is designed to resemble a giant whale diving into the ocean.
Called The Whale, the new knowledge and experience centre is being built in the village of Andenes, on the northern Norwegian island. Designed by Danish architecture firm Dorte Mandrup, the building is expected to open to visitors on June 4, 2027.
The museum’s most distinctive feature is its enormous undulating concrete roof, which rises from the rugged landscape like the tail of a whale disappearing beneath the water. The design was created to blend into the surrounding coastal environment rather than dominate it.
Dorte Mandrup won an international competition to design the project in 2019. The firm’s approach was based on creating a low, horizontal building that echoes the natural curves of the landscape and keeps the focus on the horizon and the surrounding ocean.
The roof is formed from a single curved concrete shell supported at three points. This unusual structure allows the main interior to remain free of columns, creating a large open exhibition space.
The roof will also be covered with natural, unworked stones collected from the surrounding area. Visitors will be able to walk across the rooftop and use it as a viewing platform overlooking the archipelago, with views that can also include the Northern Lights.
Inside, the building continues its connection with the landscape. The floor rises and falls with the terrain outside, while rocks from the site are incorporated directly into parts of the interior.
A continuous curved glass façade faces the ocean and archipelago, allowing visitors to remain visually connected with the surrounding landscape as they move through the building.
The Whale will focus on the relationship between humans and whales, combining science, art, storytelling and sound through its exhibitions. The area surrounding Andenes is home to several whale species, including sperm whales, humpback whales, pilot whales and orcas, making it a popular destination for whale watching.
The project also includes an extensive outdoor landscape designed by Marianne Levinsen Landskab. Visitors will be able to explore a tide pool, campfire area and stepping stones, while a new walkway across the breakwater will connect the museum with the wider coastal landscape.
Rather than simply placing a museum beside the sea, the architects have designed The Whale to become part of the landscape itself. Its sweeping roof, exposed rocks, curved glass and open views are intended to make visitors feel immersed in the Arctic environment before they even begin exploring the exhibitions.
When The Whale opens on June 4, 2027, it will offer visitors to northern Norway not only a new place to learn about whales, but also an architectural landmark designed to make the surrounding landscape part of the experience.
