Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Oddleiv Apneseth

SunnfjordCulture

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

exterior is at one with nature in small-town Norway...

Nestled in the surrounding mountains, the Norwegian town of Forde is not far from the European mainland’s largest glacier Jostedalsbreen (and if that wins you the pub quiz on Thursday night we want a cut of the booze vouchers), and the proximate environment has had a big influence on the design of the Sogn and Fjordane Art Museum.

Architects CF Moller cast their eyes around for inspiration and came up with this ice-block exterior, perfectly in keeping with the rugged landscape but at the same time eye-catching thanks to its crystalline façade constructed using highly-polished white glass cut through with intersecting lines, illuminated at night to spooky effect, and asymmetric windows.

Drawing inspiration from nature is an interesting theme, explored to great effect on a grand scale in the exterior of Melbourne’s MTC Theatre and more subtly in the interior of restaurant Hatched, in Singapore.

Inside the Kunstmuseum, visitors are directed upwards through four floors of exhibitions before emerging on the roof where they can enjoy the views that begat the building’s design. Cool.

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Oddleiv Apneseth

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Oddleiv Apneseth

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Marit Bendtz

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Oddleiv Apneseth

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Stein Sandemose Baardsen

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Oddleiv Apneseth

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Stein Sandemose Baardsen

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects

Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum

Photo © C.F. Møller Architects + Oddleiv Apneseth