Black glass panels create a striking play of colors across the façade of this Northern Norway industrial building
Situated on a challenging, narrow, steep, and north-facing plot of land, the new headquarters of the fishing and fish farming business houses office spaces, storage facility, and a learning center dedicated to aquaculture knowledge-sharing.
The combined headquarters and innovation center was commissioned by the family business Magne Arvesen & Sønner.
Echoing the silhouette of the hillside behind it, the building connects to the upper terrain and extends gracefully over the quay—cantilevered and anchored by a slender concrete footing clad in corten steel.
The convex ocean-facing façade is wrapped in black glass, segmented by stainless steel fins. These vertical lamellae subtly protrude, amplifying the façade’s reflectivity and introducing depth. They capture and mirror the surrounding landscape, producing a vibrant interplay of color that shifts with light, weather, and season.
Spatial flow and social zones
Inside, the long, narrow building volume unfolds into a linear arrangement of offices and rooms, most with expansive views of the sea. Interior glass partitions and the building’s gentle curvature foster visual connectivity while preserving privacy.
As all employees work in private offices, reinforcing focus and quietude, informal gathering spaces are emphasized—widened corridors outside meeting rooms and a canteen nestled in a sunlit, sheltered corner serve as key social anchors.
The control room is the heart of operations, overseeing life in the fish pens. Here, light and view are carefully orchestrated to support concentration and collaboration.
Materiality and Context
The building’s roof aligns with the road above, rendering its surface visible upon approach. At the rear, an external gallery walkway spans the length of the structure, providing direct access to each floor segment while visually rooting the building to the mountain backdrop.
The façade facing this direction is clad in anthracite-colored fiber cement, punctuated by vivid red window frames.
Inside, the stairwell core is cast in raw concrete without surface treatment, giving it a tactile, industrial character. A striking light installation adds a sculptural element to the space. Throughout the main building, the floors are covered with carpet made from recycled fishing nets—an homage to the company’s maritime roots and a commitment to sustainability.
Throughout the building, a red-orange palette creates a cohesive visual identity, referencing the bright buoys of the surrounding waters, represent the company’s connection to the sea.
Access and Structure
The building is accessed from two distinct levels, reflecting both its dual function and the dramatic topography. Office areas are accessed from the road above, leading directly into the fourth floor, while visitors to the learning center Arctic Aqua arrive from the seaside at ground level.
The main construction, engineered by Bollinger Grohman, is a refined steel structure with exposed diagonal trusses integrated into the façade. These elements not only express the building’s structural clarity but also contribute to its visual rhythm and industrial character.
Storage Building on the Dock
Adjacent to the main building, a separate storage and office facility rests directly on the dock. Though heavy in form, it is light in material expression. Clad in thin fiber cement panels, the structure is softened by interior finishes—recycled plastic carpet woven to resemble fishing yarn offers resilience and texture.
The steel framework of the industrial halls features a deep red color, chosen to match the fire-resistant coating required for certain elements. Blue and yellow from the stored gear are mirrored in the office design, creating striking visual contrast.
In the office areas, a perforated metal ceiling enhances acoustics and is finished in a blue-green lacquer that evokes the shifting tones of the ocean. The warm orange-red corten steel outer doors ties back to the palette of the headquarters.
Credit: Sebastian S. Bjerkvik/Snøhetta
Download drawings hereCredit: Snøhetta
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FACTS:
Location: Andørja, Ibestad Municipality, Norway
Size: 1410 m2
Typology: Industrial facility
Status: Completed
Timeline: 2017-2022
Client: M. Arvesen Eiendom as
Architecture, Landscape and Interior Architecture: Snøhetta
Entrepreneur, carpenter and concrete: Storegga
Steel and Metal: IMTAS Prosjekt AS
Locks and Fittings: Låsesmeden Finnsnes AS
Roofer: Svein M Jentoft AS
Sheet Metal Worker: Mathiassen Ventilasjon-Blikkenslager AS
Glazier: Glassmester Solbjør AS
Painter: Schwenke & Richardsen AS
Ceilings and Partition Walls: Troms Byggmontering AS
Plumber: T. Olsen Rør AS
Ventilation: GK Norge AS
Electrician: Bye Berg AS
CONTACT:
Ida Halvorsen Kemp