Norveg Coast Cultural Center | Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

Designed by Gudmundur Jonsson Architects, Norveg is situated in the Community Rørvik which has long tradition for fishery,  and represents the utmost of the Norwegian coastal culture through ages. Today there is a boat-building industry carrying on  the tradition, but in a modern way.

Being situated by the coast, represents in one way a challenge bringing visitors to the place, ensuring economic stability in the organization of the center. Therefore the Architect stated, that a building of significance was needed to ensure attention to this community.

Norveg Coast Cultural Center, image courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

The Architect  “visited”  the ancient times of fishery and used the culture for inspiration in creating the idea.  Thus the idea is based on the image of 3 sails which lean against a modern vessel, such uniting the sailing-boat tradition and the modern ships. The building becomes an evolution of a coast-cultural history visualized in architecture. The building even consists of an after-deck or a hind part to complete the interpretation of the ship-inheritage.

The building is 1.730 m². The organization follows the architectural elements. The main central vessel or hull  as the spine of the building housing the administration, kitchen and technical plants. The sails covering the foyer, restaurant and temporary exhibition. The big rock on the other side symbolizing the shore the ship is docking to, containing the multimedia and concert/auditorium space. At last the after-deck containing the coast-cultural exhibition also designed by the same Architect.

Norveg Coast Cultural Center, image courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

The height between the floor and the sails is just 140 cm and this is due to the interpretation of the sailboats that have the sail boom low, and you have to bend to cross sails. In this particular case this is also due to the reason that the architect wanted people to stop, calm down and have a see to enjoy the view to the ocean,  in such way you hardly see the see unless sitting down.

The visitor is captured in the wessel, and has to experience it from the inside as well. The cashiers/reception desk is inspired by the front of a ship pointing towards the fjord. The floor is of course a parkett inspired by the deck of a ship.  Above, under the ceiling a special created lighting fixture interpreting the seagulls are floating, named  “acoustical seagulls”.

Norveg Coast Cultural Center, image courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

Climate by the sea demands carefullness in the choice of materials. Therefore the use of Alucobond in the Sails was necessary because of its endurance.  The main ship consists of concrete, casted by horizontal  formwork boards to illude the ship, and the after dec-walls are covered with wooden boards specially impregnated  to interpret the old wooden boats.

The building has already managed to arouse a great interest outside Rørvik and the northern part of Norway, but the most important part is that it already has achieved  to arouse optimism in the Community, creating other investments, and leading to other buildings and enthusiasm in the society.  In such way it has in its small scale established a kind of a Bilbao-effect for a community of 10.000 inhabitants and is still carrying on its mission as an architectural symbol of history in evolution.

Norveg Coast Cultural Center - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

Norveg Coast Cultural Center - First floor plan, drawing courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

Norveg Coast Cultural Center - Section, drawing courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

+ Project credits / data

Project: Norveg Coast Cultural Center
Location: Rorvik, Norway
Architect: Gudmundur Jonsson Architects | http://www.gudmundurjonsson.no/
Typology: Cultural

+ All images and drawings courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson Architects

+ Other waterfront architecture on +MOOD

Ozeaneum German Oceanographic Museum | Behnisch Architekten