The internationally renowned architect studio, Dorte Mandrup always makes their design with outstanding craftsmanship, driven by a devout belief in the possibilities of contemporary architecture and experimental curiosity. With the Whale, Dorte Mandrup combines architecture and the mission to protect marine life in Northern Norway.
The Whale
Dorte Mandrup is internationally renowned for working on sites that require a high degree of sensitivity and contextual understanding. One of those sites lies 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, on the tip of the island Andøya – both above and below the water surface. A place frequently visited by migrating whales and soon home to a new arctic attraction, ‘The Whale’, designed by Dorte Mandrup. The building will house exhibition spaces, offices, a café, and a store, with a carefully planned web of paths, platforms and viewpoints highlighting the landscape around the attraction. With an ambitious goal to combine architecture and a mission to protect marine life, ‘The Whale’ will strengthen northern Norway as a travel destination and create a positive ripple effect outward to other businesses in the north.
About Dorte Mandrup
Dorte Mandrup is a Danish architectural studio, established by architect and professor Dorte Mandrup in 1999. The studio consists of dedicated people who are specialized in working with irreplaceable places within irreplaceable landscapes, cultures, and stories. Their designs are always made with outstanding craftsmanship and are driven by a devout belief in the possibilities of contemporary architecture and experimental curiosity. Dorte Mandrup always creates sensory architecture that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. Passionate dedication and a constant strive for the highest quality have resulted in award-winning designs for cultural buildings on no less than five UNESCO World Heritage sites.