Norway’s most spectacular new building takes shape

A new experience centre in Andenes, Norway, is drawing comparisons with some of the world’s most iconic buildings. The Whale opens in June 2027 with a mission to raise ocean awareness through science and art.

Can a building make people care more about the ocean? That is the ambition behind The Whale in Andenes, Norway, which opens its doors on 3 June 2027. The project’s architecture is already being compared to the Sydney Opera House and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Danish architect Dorte Mandrup designed the building. HENT is the design-and-build contractor, with The Whale AS as the client. The centre will use science and art across nine experience rooms to raise awareness about the world’s oceans.

“The whole idea behind the experience centre is to use the whale to increase public awareness of how we take care of the great oceans. That in itself is a sustainable thought. If we succeed, it will strengthen the sustainability of our oceans,” says project manager Børre Berglund at The Whale AS.

A roof built to last 200 years

One of the most striking features of the 3,700-square-metre building is the roof — a combination of steel structure and two layers of concrete, built with meticulous craftsmanship to stay watertight for 200 years.

The architectural expression has also pushed both the contractor and suppliers to innovate. A curved glass facade facing the sea must withstand winds of 40 metres per second, sea spray and the occasional stone thrown up by the waves.

“That is naturally a significant part of what is, let us say, innovative and groundbreaking,” says Berglund.

Sustainability runs through the entire project. A dedicated sustainability document governs all decisions, both during construction and in the centre’s future operations.

• More reading: The Whale secures €6.4m in state funding