300 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, on the Norwegian island of Andøya, the architect Dorte Mandrup has designed a work destined to redefine the concept of a nature museum. The project, entitled The Whale, will open its doors on June 4, 2027 in Andenes, a village famous for its nutrient-rich underwater canyons frequented by sperm whales and humpback whales.
The structure, whose work began in June 2025 after a long gestation that began with the 2019 international competition, looks like a gigantic whale’s tail emerging directly from the coastal rocks. The curved roof, covered with unworked stones and supported by only three points to free the 1,800 internal square meters from columns, is entirely open to visitors as a panoramic terrace overlooking Vesterålen, ideal for admiring the midnight sun or the Northern Lights.
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A multisensory journey between science, art and history
The in-house experience, curated by Ralph Appelbaum Associates and Tamschick Media + Space, goes far beyond the traditional display of zoological artifacts. The space offers galleries with the ninety species of existing cetaceans, life-size sculptures, multisensory installations immersed in ocean sounds and areas dedicated to the anatomy and cooperation between marine mammals. The route dialogues with the existing tourist ecosystem, which includes boat trips such as those on the M/S Reine at a cost of 1,690 Norwegian crowns (around 155 euros), and extends outside with stone paths leading to tide pools and refreshment areas, recalling the proximity to the historic Andenes lighthouse which has been active since 1859.
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The profound paradox of whaling
Behind the fascination with this architectural and naturalistic sanctuary, financed with entrance tickets starting from 540 Norwegian crowns (around 49 euros), however, a dramatic and unavoidable contradiction emerges. Precisely in Norway, a nation that celebrates and studies cetaceans through futuristic cultural centers, commercial whaling continues to represent a bloody institutionalized massacre. Despite international bans and global disapproval against the slaughter of large mammals, the Norwegian government still authorizes the capture of whales, transforming the artistic celebration of these giants into an unsustainable ethical short circuit for anyone fighting for their protection.
An urgent call for global protection and respect
The coexistence between the museum glorification of the species and the ruthless reality of commercial hunting can only raise profound questions about the real respect for marine life. While on the one hand the museum exposes the wounds inflicted by industrial whaling and promotes a new ecological awareness, on the other hand the continuity of hunting trips in the North Seas makes any celebration hypocritical. Visit The Whale and sailing the waters of Andenes to admire the sperm whales must transform into an act of pure critical conscience, demanding the immediate end of every form of lethal exploitation and finally recognizing these extraordinary giants the inalienable right to live free in the oceans.
