Coast-Cultural Center
Gudmundur Jonsson

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

The Norveg Coast Cultural Center, located in the Municipality of Rørvik, stands as a lighthouse representing the Norwegian coastal culture through the ages.

The design concept, 3 sails leaning against a modern vessel, is Inspired by the long tradition for fishing combined with the latest in the boat-building industry. An afterdeck completes the concept of the ship heritage.


Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

The organization follows the architectural elements. The spine of the building, the main central vessel or hull, houses the administration, the kitchen, and technical parts.

The big block on one side, symbolizing the shore the ship is docked to, contains the multimedia and concert/auditorium space.

The sails cover the foyer, the restaurant, and the temporary exhibition.


Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

The coast-cultural exhibition, also designed by Gudmundur Jonsson, is located on the afterdeck. The exhibition, "The country with the big sea outside", tells Norway's coastal history through the last 10,000 years.

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

Because of the severe coastal climate the choice of materials was very important. The sails are Alucobond because of its endurance, the main building is concrete, cast by horizontal formwork boards to allude the ship. The afterdeck walls are covered with wooden boards, specially impregnated to resemble the old wooden boats.


Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

Photo: ©Thomas Mayer

The building was nominated for the European Union Mies van der Rohe Award 2005. The primary objective of the prize is to recognize and comment works of contemporary architecture that are characterized by their conceptual, aesthetical and technical solutions.


Site Plan courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson


Ground Floor Plan courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson


First Floor Plan courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson

Section courtesy Gudmundur Jonsson