Where water meets land, a border in constant change affected by the tide, lies the new National Timberfloating Museum of Våtmark. The museums physical context, is in the intersection between river, wetland, field, meadow and the local community. This is the focus for the building´s design – the barn by the Glomma. The architectural and organizational solution finds inspiration in how humans through centuries have built in this context. The farm and in particular “firkanttunet” is a Norwegian building tradition where several larger functions are arranged around a square courtyard, which makes the daily operation more effective. This historical typology is a reference and central inspiration for how the museum design is organized. Every function is located around the courtyard based on the experience of the visitor, the exhibition storytelling and efficient daily operation. “Firkanttunet” is reinterpreted by letting all the traditional individual buildings melt into one “barn” resulting in a continuous flow for the visitor, created for optimal immersion, learning and reflection. The choice of material also references traditional building methods, a combination of wood and stone.

The visitors are lead all the way out over the river as a natural part of the exhibition route. An organic transition which creates an interesting shift in spatiality – from large, tall and flexible exhibition spaces, to a narrow and focused view of the Glomma´s fascinating meanders and rich wildlife. Below the raised part of the barn is a direct connection between shoreline and courtyard, a second arrival route from the water and nature path to the museum. The courtyard and the large covered outdoor area makes is possible for outdoor exhibitions, events, workshop, lectures and concerts to take place regardless of the weather. The public accessible areas inscribes themself in the already existing recreative program along the river and invites everyone “inside” – even outside of the museum opening hours. Large timber rafts are placed in the water and on the land, as a reference to the enormous quantities of timber that used to be transported down the river Glomma. Here the visitors can arrive by boat and via the rafts be guided all the way to the museum courtyard and foyer. Equal emphasis has been given to who the museum presents itself whether arrived to from land or water.