Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter has won an invited competition to design the new extension of Norway's Polar Exploration Museum “FRAM” on Oslo's museum island, Bygdøy. 

In an invited competition, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter's proposal "Framtid" was selected as the winning proposal earlier this year. 

The new extension for the FRAM Museum will propel the museum towards the future with a simple idea: that architecture can exemplify how we care for our environment.

The building will be dedicated to polar exploration and environmental education. "A thorough sustainable approach was essential for the project to minimize its environmental impact," said Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter. 

The simple, full-span wooden hull will provide flexibility in adapting to changing needs. The studio will use locally-sourced wood which is inspired by FRAMs own original wooden construction and used for the cladding and the structure, while concrete is limited to infrastructure elements. 

Glass is used sparingly, where its impact is the strongest, such as towards the fjord and the surrounding vegetation.

"An important aspect of polar expeditions was research on climate and the environment," said the architects. 

"Like the crews of Fram, Gjøa and Maud, the museum's guests will be inspired to seek knowledge on environmental education in regard to current climate change and sustainable solutions."

The new extension will contain gathering places, exhibition space, a cafe to the current installations where they "display ships and artifacts from early polar expeditions”.

The building is aimed to be a signal of participation to polar exploration, while the museum aims to inspire guests to "seek knowledge on environmental education in regards to current climate change and sustainable solutions."

The project is arranged according to the site's topography, the architects created simple volumes which are organized perpendicularly to the water, by generating gathering places facing the fjord. 

In addition, "the exhibition spaces, deep in the building, offer full light control for sensory experiences and connect to the three other wings through passages."

On the northern side, people can access to the cafe by the shore and boat shuttles. 

By designing a flexible exterior amphitheater, which is also used for daily café operations, is aimed to transform a gathering space and through that space, school classes or large groups of visitors will be able to meet up. 

Project facts

Type: Culture

Location: Oslo, Norway

Program: FRAM museum extension

Client: The FRAM museum

Size: new extension of 2,600m2

Commission type: Invited competition 2020

Design Team: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter

All images © Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter

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