The community hall is situated on the corner at the intersection of the streets Storgata and Bispegata, its main façade faces Storgata. A small alley separates the hall from the old cinema, Verdensteatret, on the south side of the building, while the northern gable wall faces towards the street Bispegata. The building is characterised by an Empire style and has features that are clearly influenced by architecture in Bergen.

The main façade is symmetric, centred on a pointed gable dormer. Uniform windows line the façade and richly designed Empire style portals are located on the corners of the building. The building terminates with a slate covered saddle roof that bends slightly. Stairwells are annexed to the gable end walls. Some of the main features from the Bergen Empire style are horizontal panelling, the half circle windows above the entrance door, a slightly bending roof and the large roof dormer.

The community hall was originally constructed as a merchant residence. From 1901-1905, the author Cora Sandel, amid others, lived here. The building's conversion into a community hall had large historical significance for the town, when the Labourers' Association (Arbeiderforeningen) took over in 1911. A café called Samfunnskafeen was also opened here. After the café was shut down, the building stood empty until the opening of the Perspektivet Museum at the turn of the 21st century. Storgata 95 was declared a listed building in 1942.

1838

Residential

museum

Woodwork

timber

cogging joint method

panelling

residence

museum

woodwork

timber

cog joint construction

horizontal boarding

dormer

empire style

portal

stairwell

Andresen, Astri: Tromsø gjennom 10000 år, bind 2, Tromsø 1994, p.116

Bakke, Petter: "Tromsø bys utvikling", Årbok for foreningen til norske fortidsminnemerkers bevaring, Oslo 1983, pp. 107-130

Hegstad, Sveinulf (ed.): Fotefar mot nord. Byvandringer, Tromsø. Tromsø (year unkown), pp. 17-18

Svendsen, Ola Ø.: Fredede hus og anlegg 1, Finnmark, Troms, Nordland, Oslo 1981, pp. 40-41