Scandinavian architecture is all about becoming one with nature, and this new marine-inspired museum set to be built in Norway is no exception.
Designed by Copenhagen-based architecture studio Dorte Mandrup, “The Whale” is expected to open in 2022. The curved structure will resemble the flukes (or tail fin) of a whale in the form of a giant rock rising from the shores of Andøya, a northern Norwegian island that is considered one of the world’s best places to spot migrating whales.
Dubbed “the Whale,” the design-forward structure will serve as a coastal viewpoint and an educational museum for visitors seeking out the area’s abundant marine wildlife.
Because of the island’s location about 184 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the surrounding cold, deep waters attract abundant squid, which in turn draw large numbers of whales to the areas offshore.
It’s possible to spot pilot, minke, and sperm whales near Andenes from June to August, and during winter, orcas and humpback whales migrate through the fjords of Vesterålen as well as through the Lofoten archipelago, located just to the south.
The coastal village welcomes around 50,000 visitors each year for its world-class whale-watching opportunities.
As striking as The Whale may look, it will fit right in with the country’s growing collection of architecturally striking buildings. We definitely can’t wait for the opening in 2022!
