“The Whale”: New attraction in Norway

The Vesteralen archipelago in the far north of Norway gets a new attraction called “The Whale”: The spectacular visitor center in Andenes – 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle at the tip of the island Andøya – is to observe the whales and tell the fascinating history of these animals , The opening is planned in 2022.

Andenes is considered one of the best places in the world to see whales up close: the 1,000-meter-deep waters just off the coast seem to magically attract the majestic ocean liners on their hikes. Already, this spectacle attracts around 50,000 tourists every year – and with “The Whale”, Norway can count on more in the future.

Designed by Danish architects Dorte Mandrup, the Visitor Center looks like it is emerging from the dramatic landscape. Rocks that penetrate the building in several places reinforce this impression. “It rises naturally like a gentle hill on the rocky shore, as if a giant had lifted a thin layer of the earth’s crust and created a hollow beneath it,” says Dorte Mandrup’s website.

The curved, natural-stone-roofed roof invites visitors to take a walk, where they can overlook the archipelago from a very special perspective and, in winter, admire the northern lights dancing across the sky. The large, column-free exhibition space opens through large windows to the mountains and the sea. Also planned are a café, a shop, a tide pool and a network of paths, platforms and viewpoints around “The Whale”.

Click here for the website of The Whale AS

Photos: Dorte Mandrup / Visualization: MIR