Reimagine the museum experience and its relationship with nature
THIS CULTURAL CENTER GOES BEYOND THE CONVENTIONAL MUSEUM, ENCOURAGING INTERACTION, AND FOSTERING CURIOSITY
Client: Norske Arkitekters Landsforbund
Location: Fetsund (NO)
Size: 7.300 sqm
Program: Culture
Status: Competition
Year: 2020
Project Team: Parallel Collective, Reflex Arkitekter
The new Nasjonalt Fløtingsmuseum og Kompetansesenter for Våtmark, situated along the Glomma riverbanks, stands as a symbolic gateway to the magnificent natural reserve at the confluence of the iconic inland delta. Its design, reminiscent of driftwood weathered by land and water, seamlessly integrates with its historic locale and surrounding ecosystem, adapting to the unique environment.
This cultural center goes beyond the conventional museum, encouraging interaction, and fostering curiosity, respect, and fascination for nature and the historic connections between forest management and industrial activity. It serves as a destination that creates indelible and meaningful experiences for both visitors and tourists while also serving as a dynamic cultural hub for the research community.
The building seamlessly blends with the natural surroundings, with its translucent interiors and intimate courtyards, allowing the landscape to penetrate the exhibition spaces, creating moments of complexity and surprise that invite users to engage critically with their environment at every turn and to explore from ground level up to the accessible roof.
The structure emerges from the water’s edge, extending northwest to maximize natural light and minimize visual disruption to the environment.
The design proposal targets zero CO2 emissions for operational energy and embodied carbon embracing local climate considerations, focusing on free-running operations through natural ventilation and solar control. During mid-seasons and peak summer, a geothermal system, combined with mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, ensures comfort while minimizing energy consumption. In the peak of winter, locally sourced wood, in synergy with the geothermal+heat-pump system, covers extra heating demands, reinforcing the connection between the Museum and Fetsund.
The new Nasjonalt Fløtingsmuseum reimagines the museum experience and its relationship with the surrounding nature, transforming it into an interactive part of the discovery and learning path. A new paradigm of symbiotic architectural landscape to valorize remote productive areas and make their fascinating history accessible to everybody.
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