Nestled in the mouth of the fjord, an hour’s boat ride from the island of Bodø, is the idyllic, but extremely exposed Fleinvær archipelago. This remote spot in Northern Norway attracts artists from all over the whole world thanks to an extraordinary work of architecture.
The project was initiated by Håvard Lund, a musician. The vision was to create a sanctuary where artists could “disconnect to connect”. The place is also known as “The Arctic Hideaway”.
Built for eternity
At the outset, the project was described as extremely ambitious given the location and the harsh climate. As the project founder, even Lund himself had his doubts.
“My original concept was to create something for eternity.
But I didn’t really dare to believe it could be done until the finished buildings had survived the ravages of that first winter. But once they had withstood multiple storms, I had proof that this – this can stand up to anything”.
He admits that making the structures wind and weather resistant was one of the critical factors throughout, not to mention that they had to be sustainable and maintenance-free.
“Nature conservation is first priority. Next priority is the people who are going to benefit from this for years to come. That’s why we wanted to build on nature’s own terms, and create something that leads its own organic life without the need for real maintenance”.
Kebony was a natural and reliable choice
“The Kebony cladding blends in naturally with this pristine Norwegian landscape, to bring out a sense of natural harmony. Over the years, the wood will gradually be transformed from brown to silvery-grey, while the timeless elegance and durability endure”.
Today, Håvard Lund no longer has any doubt about the future of The Arctic Hideaway.
“This architecture is made to last in terms of both its design and component materials. The entire project is extremely accomplished in its quality and passion at every level. Nothing was left to chance”.
International acclaim
The result speaks for itself – the architecture has won a number of awards and garnered praise from both the local and international communities. Many people are fascinated by the place, and artists of all kinds come from every corner of the globe for the experience. Last year, The Arctic Hideaway also won the prestigious Architizer award in the ‘Architecture in landscapes’ category.
Photography by Aksel Jermstad.
