Porsgrunn Maritime Museum

The city of Porsgrunn has a long maritime history of shipping and the unique development of the region is clearly visible in the existing building structure. The concept of Porsgrunn Maritime Museum shows a high level of sensitivity towards the existing historical context and picturesque nature, yet simultaneously creating something contrasting and standing out as a contemporary public building.
Taking into account the surrounding building structure with the historical wooden buildings, the roof is composed of tilted downscaled volumes that are assembled into a larger building unit. This creates a dynamic figure with pitched roofs in different directions, mirroring the surrounding roof structure.
The zigzag-shaped building has a charismatic aluminium façade outlining the shape of the building composition. The aluminium used is from a local producer, and consists of smaller shingles that create a scaly surface, picking up reflections from the water. Depending on the weather the colour of the façade appears different.
The functions of the building are simply organized, housing all exhibitions on the first floor and all the official functions at the ground floor, where they are easily accessible. This includes offices, shops and a sailor association. Through an integrated hallway, the building is also connected to Porsgrunn’s Road and Traffic Center located next to the museum.
The museum opened its doors in 2013 and is the result of a competition held in 2009 won by Danish architects COBE and Transform in collaboration with Sweco engineers. The museum tells the story of Norway’s transformation from a shipping industry to a modern society based on a knowledge industry.