The Bands by Scarcity and Creativity
Architects: Scarcity and Creativity
Location: Nordland, Norway
Year: 2015
Photo courtesy: Jonas Aarre Sommarset and Jonas Aarre Sommarset
Description:
The project site is located in Kleivan, Vestvagoy Municipality, Lofoten. North of the Polar Circle, the Lofoten islands stretch about 250 km S-SW, from the fjord of Ofoten to the outer Roest islands. The line of islands builds up to 1100 m high wall of mountains and cliffs on the north side of the Vestfjord.
The site of the project in Kleivan is on a quay containing three existing buildings: a fisherman’s cottage, a cod liver oil production building, and a cod salting building which were part of a now abandoned fishing village. These buildings date back to the early 1900s and are considered historically important because they are the remains of a form of life prevalent in this region which has ceased to exist. For these reasons the quay and three buildings have been listed in the “Cultural Heritage Plan for Lofoten” adopted by Nordland county in 2007.
The project is located at the end of the quay aiming for a sensitive relation with the landscape and a direct contact with the water. All the facilities are contained in a folding system of three bands. The program consists of four separated areas. In the north side, the bands emerge from the rocks and lead to a hot/cold tub and rest area.The sauna is created by the rising of the three bands that move independently, creating shifts and offsets that allow the light to come inside and generate the different spaces within it.
The completely open front facade offers an exceptional view of landscape. Once the bands has wrapped the sauna, the lateral ones go down and advance close to the ground to generate the main terrace while the central band splits to result in a table and benches with integrated barbecue. In the lowest part of the quay the bands continue creating a fish-cleaning table and steps to connect the different heights.
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