Schmidt Hammer Lassen selected to compete for the transformation of the Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg

Schmidt Hammer Lassen has been selected as one of four teams to compete for the transformation of the Fisheries and Maritime Museum into Denmark’s future Museum of the Sea.

Located on the edge of the Wadden Sea, the existing museum, designed by Halldor Gunnløgsson and Jørn Nielsen, has for nearly 60 years told the story of the relationship between people and the sea. It is now set to evolve into a new national cultural destination that rethinks this connection for the future.

The shortlisted teams have been selected for their architectural quality, experience with cultural transformations, and ability to unite heritage with bold new ideas.

Together with Niras and Opland, we look forward to developing our proposal with deep respect for the existing architecture, while exploring how the museum can become a contemporary and future-facing place for knowledge, nature, and public life.

The competition is supported by Realdania, A.P. Møller Fonden, and Esbjerg Kommune, with the winning team expected to be announced in August 2026.