Petter Dass Museum by Snøhetta

Petter Dass Museum is a new building for the Norwegian legendary character Petter Dass（1647–1707, who was a clergyman and poet.

Next to the historic church, Petter Dass Museum embedded between two 70-meter long wire-cut rock walls in the riverside of Alstahaug municipality, Nordland county. The exposed granite walls and the transparent walls of modern architecture strong contrast and complement each other.

Architects: Snøhetta
Location: Alstadhaug, Norway
Photography: Åke E:son Lindman, Courtesy of Snøhetta

Inspiration from architect:

Snøhetta decided to make a cut in the landscape, creating space for a freestanding building, which, in volume added, balances the mass removed. This bold solution creates a new yet humble relationship to the adjacent historical sites, as well as allowing an expressive architecture. In this way, the new museum visualizes the historical timeline from the church’s beginnings to the present day.