Norway's Arctic coast is set to gain a new landmark attraction. The Whale, a knowledge and experience centre dedicated to whales and the marine ecosystems they inhabit, is scheduled to open in June 2027 in Andenes, on the island of Andøya, roughly 300km north of the Arctic Circle.

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A building shaped like a whale's dive

The centre is designed by acclaimed Danish architect Dorte Mandrup, whose practice won an international competition for the project. The structure rises from the shoreline in a single curved concrete form, evoking a whale's back diving beneath the surface. Its roof will be covered in local stone and vegetation and doubles as a public viewing platform, offering sweeping views over the Norwegian Sea. Inside, visitors will find immersive exhibitions, a café, a shop and educational spaces, with exhibition design led by New York-based firm Ralph Appelbaum Associates, selected following its own international competition.

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One of the world's best places to see whales

The Whale will sit close to the Andenes Lighthouse, on the western shore of Andenes, near Bleiksdjupet, a deep underwater canyon that draws nutrient-rich waters close to shore. The canyon has made the surrounding waters a year-round feeding ground for whales, including sperm whales, humpback whales, orcas and fin whales, and the area has drawn whale watchers since organised whale-watching trips began there in the late 1980s.

Blending art, science and architecture

The project, first won by Dorte Mandrup's studio in 2019, secured its final public funding in November 2024 and is now under construction, with a confirmed opening of June 2027. Organisers describe the goal as creating the world's most meaningful encounter between humans and whales, combining scientific exhibits on whale evolution, biology and behaviour with reflections on humanity's long, complicated relationship with the animals, from reverence and study to historical whaling.

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Source: The Whale (thewhale.no), Dorte Mandrup A/S

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