Wale Island museum building - sustainably built

New museum interior: space for large objects — Spacious, column-free interior enables immersive presentations in the museum.

New museum building made of steel: exhibits inside the industrial hall — Life-size whale model utilises the full room size for an impressive exhibition experience.

New museum building as a steel structure: large hall with plenty of space — Entrance with steel panels combines a robust building envelope and contemporary museum architecture.

Owner
Whale Museum
Area
3,100 m²
Extra
Wingspan: 33 m
Location
Reykjavík/Iceland

REQUIREMENT

Spacious museum room for exhibits in original size

In Reykjavík, right by the harbour, an existing building was to be converted into an impressive museum building - the new home of the "Whales of Iceland" exhibition, Europe's largest presentation of life-size whales. The aim was to create an immersive experience in which visitors would feel as if they were walking through a magical underwater landscape.

The requirements for the building project were clear: a large, column-free interior, efficient building technology, low conversion costs and a modern appearance. The existing building - originally designed as a retail shop and workshop for car tyres - was to be architecturally upgraded and at the same time functionally adapted for museum purposes.

RESULT

Conversion of an industrial hall into a modern museum building

The existing building was transformed into a modern museum building that combines design, functionality and sustainability. The generous span of the steel structure enabled an open interior design, ideal for the installation of life-size whale models.

Technically, the building was equipped with an energy-efficient double roof system and the LPA900 wall system. This combination improves thermal insulation, reduces energy requirements and gives the building clear and contemporary architectural expression. In addition, a café and a museum shop were created to extend the visit and round off the visitor experience. The result is a functional, sustainable museum building with a strong spatial impact.

BUILDING A MUSEUM - EFFICIENT REUSE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

For permanent exhibitions, building a museum often means rethinking existing buildings and adapting them to accommodate challenging content. Astron realises museum buildings by converting industrial and commercial buildings, where large spans, column-free rooms and flexible floor plans are crucial. Steel structures create the conditions for open exhibition areas and full-size exhibits.

Energy-efficient roof and wall systems allow existing buildings to be technically upgraded and operated economically in the long term. The combination of modern building technology, clear architecture and sustainable construction creates museum buildings that are both functionally impressive and emotionally appealing. This results in permanent exhibitions that inspire visitors and that develop buildings in a meaningful way.

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