The Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta will give the Kon-Tiki Museum a bold makeover. But that is only one of many new attractions opening in the next couple of years – here are some of the highlights!
Get ready for red carpets, evening dresses and champagne! As several projects long in the making throughout the whole country are finally getting ready to open their doors to the public, you can hardly pick a more exciting time to visit Norway. Click here to see what happens in 2023, and have a sneak peek of the most exciting new wonders to come:
1. The Norientexpress
Catch a ride with Norway's Orient Express – the Norientexpress!
To start, the Norientexpress will operate two electric trains equipped with comfortable furnishing, exercise room, an observatory and much more. They plan the first trip in October 2024, which will be a six day long journey from the coastal city of Bergen, via Oslo to the historical city of Trondheim. Both the Dovre Railway and Bergen Railway are some of the world's most spectacular train journeys! The new locomotives will have a natural design and consist of Norwegian materials. Good thing it's electrified – making it a more sustainable way of travelling.
Expected to open: October 2024
2. The Whale in Vesterålen
Architect: Dorte Mandrup
Buckle up for a whale of a time! The stunning structure of the Whale on the island Andøya in Vesterålen – considered one of the world’s best places to spot migrating whales – will act as a coastal viewpoint and an educational museum. The Whale’s stone-covered rooftop will serve as a whale-spotting platform, while the inside will house sprawling exhibition spaces with whale-related artefacts, a café, and a museum store.
Opens: Not decided
3. The new Kon-Tiki Museum
Architect: Snøhetta
The Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta reveals plans to renew the Kon-Tiki Museum. The new museum will be in line with Thor Heyerdahl’s adventurous spirit and drive to promote intercultural understanding and respect for our natural resources.
Located on the forested Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo, the Kon-Tiki Museum is one of Norway’s most visited museums, with the raft from the world-renowned Kon-Tiki expedition across the Pacific Ocean in 1947. Heyerdahl was interested in the preservation of nature, concerned by overconsumption, and passionate about creating a more sustainable world.
The museum’s new centerpiece will hold a large multi-purpose auditorium, with spectacular views of the garden and the sky – a place dedicated for young and old alike to learn and discuss the importance of consumption reduction and address the global challenges related to poor ocean health.
Opens in 2025.
4. Kunstsilo Nordic art museum in Kristiansand
Architect: Mestres Wåge and MX_SI
On the island of Odderøya in Kristiansand in Southern Norway, a historical landmark and grain silo is currently being transformed into a massive art museum. The nearly 10,000 square metres of the new museum will act as a catalyst for Nordic Modernist art through a range of permanent and temporary exhibitions. The ambition is for the Kunstsilo to become one of the Nordic region’s leading art museums.
Opens in 2024.
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