The Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat/ Sámi Museum in Karasjok opened in 1972 and was the first purpose built premises for culture in Sápmi (the Sámi region including areas in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia). As well as housing exhibitions about Sámi culture and history the building was in the early years also used as a Sámi cultural centre. The architects are Magda Eide Jessen and Vidar Corn Jessen. Ivar Jåks has contributed integrated art and exhibition designs which have become striking features of the interior. On the land surrounding the museum is a collection of old Sámi buildings and constructions.

Surrounded by pine trees the Sámi Museum is built on a natural terrace in the landscape just above the centre of Karasjok and the low building tunes into and underlines the topography. The exhibition wing consists of several cube shaped volumes and its concrete walls have been left untreated showing the wood grain of the shuttering. Two of the cube shapes have corner windows opening up towards the outdoor collection of traditional Sámi buildings. The long administration wing, clad in stained black wood, reaches out to visitors and leads them to the main entrance.

1970-1972

Magda Eide Jessen &

Vidar Corn Jessen

De Samiske Samlinger

Museum

exhibition space, offices

Concrete

wood

Jessen, Magda Eide og Vidar Corn Jessen, "Samiske samlinger, Karasjok", Byggekunst 2, 1972, pp. 48-49.

Snarby, Irene: "På vei mot et samisk kunstmuseum", Ottar 4/2010