Projects / Culture     

Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo. ­Refurbishment

The first step of the much-needed upgrade of the Kon-Tiki Museum at Bygdøy has been completed.

Architect: Kaels Studio AS, interior architects
Published 30 Mar, 2017
 

Thor Heyerdahl gathering timber for the Kon-Tiki raft in Ecuador, 1947. The raft was built without metal of any kind. Photo: Kon-Tiki Museet

The new foyer, reception and shop.

Thor Heyerdahl in front of the Kon-Tiki Museum, which opened in 1957.Photo: Kon-Tiki Museet

A few details reference the Kon-Tiki raft.

From the shop.

First floor meeting room, inspired by The Explorers Club in New York.

Sales desk.

Plan. 1. Entrance 2. Group meeting point 3. Shop counter 4. Café, seating 5. Shop, library 6. Shop, Kon-Tiki Kids 7. Shop 8. Cloakroom 9. Stair 10. Exit

Shop island. Plan and elevation.

Completion: 2016

Address:
Bygdøynesveien 36, Oslo

View it on the map

Photo:
Arne Wang, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, Søren-Harder-Jensen, Wenzel-Prokosch

The Museum housing Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki raft was first completed in 1957, initiated by the explorer himself and designed by architect Frithjof Stoud Platou. After years of alterations the entrance area and foyer were cluttered and in need of rethinking. The new solution creates a single-level foyer and shop, reinstating the original ceiling and entrance door. The columns naturally lead visitors around the space. The “tiki-style” elements have been replaced with a cool Nordic ­palette of colours and materials, with a slight echo of the balsawood raft logs in the table and bench ­supports.