Norway’s Hotly Anticipated Contemporary Art Museum

Move over Frank Gehry, along the shores of Andøya, an island in the northernmost part of Norway, an impressive structure is being built known as the Whale. The area, which is known for its abundant marine life including the migration of whales, is preparing for the arrival of this contemporary art museum, which is merely 186 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The cold waters also attract squid and assorted species of whales including sperm, humpback and minke.

Though the museum was expected to open in 2022, its construction was postponed after remnants of a Viking Age settlement were discovered on the building site. The new target opening date is June 2023.

The unusual structure will appear to look like a large stone that “grows out of the landscape” and “rises naturally as a soft hill on the rocky shore,” according to a press release. Visitors will be able to walk directly onto its rooftop on either side of the sloped platform.

There will be large exhibition spaces showcasing whale-related artifacts, a café, and museum store. There will also be areas within the museum which will allow visitors to watch for migrating whales with the spaces’ floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Norwegian Sea.

The Whale’s overall goal is to create awareness and help with the preservation of whales and their natural environment.

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