Shackleton Experience

The Shackleton Experience in Athy, Ireland, is a contemporary extension to the historic former town hall, designed by OBFA Architects. The museum celebrates the legendary Antarctic expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and the façade plays a central role in expressing this story.

For this project, Alumet applied double anodizing in AluBlue, incorporating our Frozen pattern to create a layered, crystalline surface. By combining matt etched and brightened areas within the aluminium, a two-tone effect emerges that evokes the shifting presence of ice and icebergs. The patterned anodized aluminium façade captures light dynamically, creating depth, reflection, and subtle movement throughout the day.

The ice blue anodized aluminium panels establish a strong visual identity for the museum extension while remaining durable and low-maintenance. Through double anodizing, colour and pattern are integrated into the aluminium itself, ensuring long-term performance and UV stability without applied coatings.

The result is a decorative anodized aluminium façade that does more than enclose a building. It tells a story. From a distance, the surface recalls frozen landscapes. Up close, the etched details reveal precision and craftsmanship, reinforcing the connection between architecture and exploration.