Porsgrunn Maritime Museum

The city of Porsgrunn has a long maritime history of shipping, and the region’s unique history is clearly visible in the existing building structure. The concept of the museum shows a high level of sensitivity towards the existing historical context, yet it simultaneously stands out as a contemporary public building. Taking into account the surrounding building structure, the museum is composed of downscaled volumes with tilted roofs that are assembled into a larger building unit. A striking aluminium façade outlines the shape of the building composition.

Located right by the river and surrounded by small, characteristic wooden houses, the museum is composed of tilted downscaled volumes that are assembled into a larger building unit. This gives rise to a dynamic figure with pitched roofs facing in different directions, mirroring the surrounding roofscape. Porsgrunn is an industrial town that traditionally has regarded the river as its backside; the museum has turned the backside into a front.

The museum tells the story of Norway’s transformation from a traditional society based mainly on shipping industry to a modern society based on knowledge industry.

The aluminium facade is constructed of local aluminium from a neighboring production plant and consists of 70% recycled aluminium shaped as shingles that create a scale-like texture and pick up reflections from the water.