This proposal was submitted in an international architectural competition for the Maritime Science Center in Tungevågen.

Just north of Jæren, the new maritime science center, Vitenvågen; soon to be Jærmuseet’s latest addition, will increase the growing interest in science in the form of interactive, family-friendly exhibitions.

The museum will provide a great experience for visitors and guests, who will be able to experience conditions on shore and at sea through architecture. The build is related to the harsh environment in that it looks like it is shaped by the North wind and its waves.

Each facade is treated differently, to give guests a unique experience. The north west side roof will function as a protective layer which gradually grows from the ground and ends in more peaks similar to the peaks.

The roof complements the stony ground-  mingling with the landscape, so that it looks naturally rocky.

To the southeast, the rooftops should be corrected to the scale of the surrounding buildings, and form a positive relationship between the museum and the existing settlement. Store openings to the south and southeast will ensure sunlight. From the north, the building will become a new landmark that can be seen from the sea, as the high peaks mix with the coastline. Nature and architecture become one.

Program distribution in the building should be simple and have a clear system. The meeting places and cafe will be on the ground floor in direct contact with the reception. The exhibition halls will also be on the ground floor in order to exploit the high ceilings under the wave crests.

The new museum has a strong theme, the sea and its use. This is a crucial factor for the project as it relates to the exhibitions within. The museum is also a place of discovery; therefore it should not look like a ship, but rather carry the idea of marine activity. As guests walk around, they will notice the scale, materials and shape. Some will get the feeling of a bow moving through stone ground, while others will feel that it is the wind and the waves that are blowing into the place. The building will encourage the use of imagination, urging visitors to understand what goes on in the North Sea and along the coast of Norway.