architecture now and The Future: COBE

01-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

In those days there was the grand opening of the Maritime Museum in Porsgrunn, 100 km south west of Oslo, which we have already presented the details of the project. 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.

02-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

The new museum tell the story of the town’s dock yard industry and its maritime history, which has employed thousands of people from the whole region. In addition, the attractive location of the museum right on the riverside Skienselva opens up an important process for the city concerning the future extensive urban renewal of the entire

03-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

“It was important to create a museum with a high level of sensitivity towards these surroundings, yet at the same time for the new Maritime Museum and Exploratorium to stand out as a spectacular contemporary building and become a landmark of Porsgrunn”, Lars Bendrup explains, Owner of TRANSFORM.

04-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

Lars Bendrup continues: “Our general vision was to turn a backside into a frontside. With the new museum the town will now orientate itself towards the beautiful river, which for much too long has been Porsgrunn’s industrial backside”.

05-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

The new Maritime Museum and Exploratorium is composed of eleven smaller square volumes, together amounting to almost 2,000 m2. Each volume has a different roof slant that assembled make up a varied roof structure.

06-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

A characteristic aluminum facade, locally produced in Porsgrunn, not only holds the dynamic building structure together, but at the same time it reflects light and colors from the surrounding Norwegian mountain landscape.

07-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

Dan Stubbergaard, Founder and Creative Director of COBE, elaborates: ”This interpretation of the area’s pitched roofs and small wooden building entities sets the final frame for a unique and characteristic contemporary building”.

08-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

All public functions of the building are situated on the ground floor and have direct access to the outdoor areas including the new promenade towards the river. The central entrance area is the building's main room from where all other rooms are distributed.

09-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

This multifunctional space is defined by a central characteristic staircase that folds down from above and invites visitors upstairs to the large, enclosed exhibition area.

10-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

Here various room heights and a distinct ceiling line emphasize an airy and continuous space in the character of a white box. The exhibition space is composed as an open flexible space, gently subdivided by the roof and columns into 9 different spatial experiences.

13-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

11-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

12-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

16-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

14-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

15-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

19-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

17-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

18-Maritime-Museum-and-Science-Centre-by-COBE

Location: Porsgrunn, Norway

Architect: COBE

Collaborators: TRANSFORM, Sweco

Project Team: Dan Stubbergaard, Thomas Krarup, Eik Bjerregaard, Stine Lund Hansen, Tabea Treier, Charlotte Lieske, David Engell Jessen

Size: 2,000 m²

Year: 2013

Cost: 34 mio. DKK

Client: Telemark Museum

Photographers: Adam Mørk og Rasmus Hjortshøj

Porsgrunn Maritime Museumand Science Center nears completion, will be inaugurated on August 1, 2013 with a opening exhibition will deal with logistics by land and sea.

The city of Porsgrunn has a long maritime history of shipping, and the unique development of the region is clearly visible in the existing remarkable building structure of the area.

The concept of the museum shows a high level of sensitivity towards the existing small buildings yet simultaneously stands out as a contemporary public building - housing a science center that takes its starting point in the narrative about Porsgrunn and Norway's transformation from being a nation of seafaring to a modern society based on knowledge industry.

Taking into account the surrounding building structure, the new building is composed of several smaller volumes with tilted and pitched roofs that are assembled into a larger building unit.

A characteristic aluminum facade outlines the shape of the building composition and provides a vivid impression by reflecting the lights and colours of the surrounding landscape.

This multifunctional space is defined by a central characteristic staircase that folds down from above and invites visitors upstairs to the large, enclosed exhibition area.

The 9 spatialities can be separated or combined, thereby providing a sound functional setting for small and large exhibitions.

Lars Bendrup, director at TRANSFORM, says: ”The new Maritime Museum and Science Center starts up an important process to turn the back of the city to the front. In the future, the city of Porsgrunn will be oriented towards the river. The signaling effect will therefore be crucial to the city’s new situation”.