Viking Age Museum

The Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune Viking ships, are among the most important cultural heritage objects in Scandinavia. The objective of this competition was to create a 13.000 sqm museum, exhibition space for three Viking ships, and research and learning facilities. Today, the three Viking ships are housed in a heritage building designed in 1913 by Arnstein Arneberg, which has a distinct presence in the landscape.
The challenge was to create a new extension that provides optimal exhibition conditions for the fragile Viking ships and respects the existing building.

Embedded in the terrain, the museum extension features an undulating rooftop landscape with three hills covering the three Viking ships below. An echo of the traditional Viking graves (where Viking leaders were found buried with their ships), the new museum extension reinterprets the historic culture while respecting Arnebergs solitary building in the landscape.

The jury stated "With its unobtrusive and organic design, Vikingtid på ny creates a new museum landscape above and under the ground, adapted to the site and Arneberg’s architecture."

"The new building subordinates itself to the existing buildings height and the building is placed in the north, withdrawn from the existing building. Being read as part of the landscape, the building does not compete with the existing architecture. Arneberg’s interiors still retains its relevance with its entrance and its important functions."

The proposal came second in an open, international competition.

Program: Museum extension
Size: +13.000 m2
Location: Bydøj, Norway
Client: Stattsbyg
Year: 2016
Type: Open competition, 2. place
Collaborators: Coast Studio, Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniører
Team JAJA: Kathrin Gimmel, Jakob Christensen, Jan Tanaka, Stephen Dietz-Hodgson, Sam De Boever, John Christensen, Nathalie Stachnik, Kaspar Dettinger

THE SHIPS

The three Viking ships are the main attraction in the new Viking Age Museum. To enhance the experience of the ships, we propose to have them transferred to the new large extension, which allows visitors to view the ships from multiple angles and appreciate their size and richness in detail.

THE SHIPS

The three Viking ships are the main attraction in the new Viking Age Museum. To enhance the experience of the ships, we propose to have them transferred to the new large extension, which allows visitors to view the ships from multiple angles and appreciate their size and richness in detail.

THE EXTENSION

The extension is partially submerged, merging with the surrounding landscape. The gesture honors Arnstein Arnebergs architecture as it solitarily stands on the green terrain. The original Viking Ship House is the primary entrance and, like a portal, it leads visitors on a journey into the age of Vikings.

THE EXTENSION

The extension is partially submerged, merging with the surrounding landscape. The gesture honors Arnstein Arnebergs architecture as it solitarily stands on the green terrain. The original Viking Ship House is the primary entrance and, like a portal, it leads visitors on a journey into the age of Vikings.

OPEN EXHIBITION SPACES

The Viking ships are placed in the submerged extension, which seamlessly weaves visitors inside, outside and through the museum. Large courtyards intersect the subterranean exhibit space, allowing daylight to flow through. Atrium spaces provide space for mezzanines, allowing visitors to experience the Viking ships from above and below.

OPEN EXHIBITION SPACES

The Viking ships are placed in the submerged extension, which seamlessly weaves visitors inside, outside and through the museum. Large courtyards intersect the subterranean exhibit space, allowing daylight to flow through. Atrium spaces provide space for mezzanines, allowing visitors to experience the Viking ships from above and below.

STORYTELLING

Embedded in the landscape, the new Viking Age Museum embraces the exhibition just as the barrows have protected Viking treasure for more than a thousand years. It subtly tells the story of the Viking and the site. The museum merges user experience and Viking history, contemporary and historic architecture, and builds and landscape into one cohesive narrative.

STORYTELLING

Embedded in the landscape, the new Viking Age Museum embraces the exhibition just as the barrows have protected Viking treasure for more than a thousand years. It subtly tells the story of the Viking and the site. The museum merges user experience and Viking history, contemporary and historic architecture, and builds and landscape into one cohesive narrative.

Program: Museum extension
Size: +13.000 m2
Location: Bydøj, Norway
Client: Stattsbyg
Year: 2016
Type: Open competition, 2. place
Collaborators: Coast Studio, Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniører
Team JAJA: Kathrin Gimmel, Jakob Christensen, Jan Tanaka, Stephen Dietz-Hodgson, Sam De Boever, John Christensen, Nathalie Stachnik, Kaspar Dettinger