Hotel Tre­vare­fa­brikken

What if you come across an aban­doned factory at the end of the world? Ideally, you breathe new life into it and transform it into one of Nor­way’s most creative places. In the summer of 2014, when two sets of brothers from Bergen had to spon­ta­neously change their holiday plans due to a bad weather forecast, they stumbled upon an old Tre­vare­fa­brikken (lite­rally trans­lated as ‘wood workshop’) for sale on the shore of the small fishing village of Hen­ningsvær. Enthused by the indus­trial flair and history of the factory, which was built in 1940 as a cod liver oil factory and later used as a car­pentry workshop, as well as by the fabulous view of the sea and the sur­rounding moun­tains, the four pooled all their savings and bought the vacant building. Their noble goal was to create a meeting place for people from dif­ferent back­grounds and cul­tural back­grounds.

First with the help of friends and family, and later with the support of London- and Switz­erland-based designer Jonathan Tuckey, the factory was reno­vated and reinter­preted piece by piece. Starting with the res­to­ration of the roof and façade – a con­crete-filled wooden structure – and con­ti­nuing with the inte­gration of a café, a restaurant, a wine bar and various event rooms, the project cul­mi­nated in the design of nine hotel rooms.

The challenge was to embrace the atmo­sphere, feel and sight­lines of the con­crete shell while incor­po­rating a warm palette of local and recycled mate­rials. Wood was the primary choice, paying homage to the ori­ginal car­pentry workshop. Each room – whose names tell the story and special fea­tures of the building – com­bines his­to­rical ele­ments with modern design. Old objects and struc­tures (ori­ginal wood­working machines or a double bed in the lift shaft!), sanded ash flo­or­boards and plenty of patina meet mini­malist fix­tures with wall panels, new bath­rooms and simple fur­niture. In addition, large indus­trial windows with handmade folding shutters frame the view of the sea and create a play of light and darkness that cha­rac­te­rises not only the region north of the Arctic Circle, but also the entire design concept. At times, the narrow strips of light from the shutters resemble the spec­tacle of a solar eclipse; at others, you walk through dark cor­ridors remi­niscent of the Nor­wegian sea at night or feel as if you have landed in the middle of the moun­tains rather than in the bathroom.

What began as a youthful vision is now an aes­the­ti­cally refined place with a forward-looking, holistic concept – a place to arrive, linger and dis­cover, as well as to exchange ideas, work and network. Whether on solitary mountain hikes or joint yoga ses­sions, in the wooden sauna above the sea or the bar on the first floor, at Nor­wegian con­certs or enjoying a Nea­po­litan pizza with sunset on the terrace.

Photos: Andrea Gjes­tvang, Elin Frö­derberg, Fanny Holm­ström, Max Ema­nu­elson

What to do

Mountain hikes, ski tours, swimming in Vestfjord, surfing, climbing, fishing, kayaking, yoga, meditation, various workshops and seasonal retreats, sauna, magnificent sunsets, changing events such as concerts, readings, quiz nights, discos and festivals, contemporary art at the KaviarFactory, culinary highlights, crafts and boutiques in the village, excursions to other islands and, of course, the Northern Lights (late September to early April) or the midnight sun (late May to mid-July).

Why we like this house

Definitely worth the long journey: a combination of architecture, nature, culture and hospitality – full of traditions and visionary inspiration.

This house is great for

Solo travellers, couples, friends, families or groups (max. 30 guests) looking for secluded nature and/or communal exchange including a cultural programme, whether to switch off, for a workation, for workshops or retreats.

Sustainability

Reuse of building materials and revitalisation of an abandoned site with an impact on the entire village and region, public transport: from Oslo or Trondheim by train to Bodø and from there by boat or bus to Henningsvær

Details

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