Located 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle on an island in Norway, the stunning new visitor center “The Whale” is set to be completed. This architecturally poetic building, inspired by the tail of a whale, sits by the deep sea. Its streamlined design seems to capture the graceful moment when a whale leaps out of the water, making it the perfect spot for whale watching in Northern Europe.
Andenes is a small town at the northern tip of the remote island of Andøya in Norway, just a few miles from the coast, attracting a large number of migrating whales to the area with its unique geographical advantage of deep-sea valleys. This natural phenomenon has made this town one of the best places in the world for whale watching, while also boosting the number of visitors to the Vesterålen Islands in Norway.
Danish architectural studio Dorte Mandrup chose to locate this whale-watching center on a rocky coastline, with undulating lines resembling a soft hill from afar, and a whale swimming in the sea. The most striking aspect of this attraction is its roof, made of a curved concrete shell. Its design not only creates an attractive appearance, but also allows the internal structure to support itself without the need for additional pillars, thus increasing the practicality of the interior space.
Inside the center, visitors can admire the beautiful ocean views through transparent floor-to-ceiling glass, eagerly awaiting the appearance of whales. In addition, you can walk up to the curved roof, listen to the sound of the tides, feel the sea breeze, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of sunrise and sunset.
Waiting for the appearance of whales in this ocean view alone is charming enough.
Image source and learn more: Dorte Mandru
