The Whale has not only been conceived to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, but to fuse with it. In the northern tip of Andøya, in the Vesterålen archipelago (Norway), its massive stone roof rises from the coast as if it were the tail of a whale.
Chances are you’ve heard of this museum, lookout, and architectural gem, since it was slated to open in 2020. Now, following the recent announcement that it will inaugurate next year, we share everything we know about the long-awaited ode to cetaceans.
The Project Timeline
The story began in 2014, when the idea emerged to create in Andenes (Andøya) a whale-focused enclave that would live up to a place so exceptional for observing them. Five years later, in 2019, the Danish studio Dorte Mandrup won the international architectural competition in which some of Scandinavia’s most renowned firms competed.
Now, the renders from the architectural visualization studio Mir, which have circulated for years among architecture and cetacean enthusiasts, are becoming closer to reality. After more than a decade of planning, The Whale will open its doors on June 4, 2027.
