Østengen og Bergo AS

Ersfjordstranda

Ersfjord beach is located at the farthest end of Ersfjord on the island of Senja.

Tupelo Arkitektur:

The beach is surrounded by tall mountains on three sides, which form a magnificent landscape area. The white sandy beach is a popular recreational area. The beach borders sand dunes – a particular type of flora that is rear to find in Norway. On beautiful summer days, as many as 60 cars could be parked along the road and on the grassy field down towards the beach, causing chaos and excessive wear and tear on the vulnerable vegetation. A car park and a toilet facility were built in the area where the impact on nature would be minimal. The toilet facility has a triangular geometric shape that mirrors the surrounding mountains. The exterior is clad in Corten steel. The rust colour metal will ensure that the building will blend in with its surroundings regardless of the season. The inside of the toilet facility is clad with polished stainless steel. A glass roof fills the toilet facility with light and provides a view of the surrounding nature. With simple interior lighting, the building can be used as a lantern at night. 

Østengen og Bergo AS:

On beautiful summer days, many cars were parked along the road and on the grassy fields and sand dunes at Ersfjordstranda. This led to traffic chaos and significant wear and tear on the fragile sand dune vegetation. Østengen & Bergo prepared a landscape analysis as a basis for assessing where a new car park could be located in the very vulnerable landscape.

The result of the analysis was a recommendation to design the car park in the least exposed area with the least valuable biotope. The recommended solution places the car park partly behind an existing sand dune. It was stressed that the car park should join the sand dune’s original shape without any encroachments. Placing toilet facilities, paths and sitting areas in the vulnerable terrain was also part of the assignment.

The service building is designed by Tupelo Arkitektur.
The rest area is designed by Østengen og Bergo AS.

To Ersfjordstranda

Skjervsfossen

Skjervsfossen is a large nature attraction located at one of the gateways to Norwegian Scenic Route Hardanger.

Wear and tear had taken its toll on the rest area and surroundings, and the waterfall was not easily accessible. A building that resembles a sturdy monolith is located by the parking facilities, where the nature walk begins. The building, which has toilet facilities and a small technical room//storeroom, has slate exterior walls. The interior is clad with plywood veneer; the wall facing the river and exterior doors are clad with galvanised sheets.

Footpaths and hikes that offer various ways to experience the waterfall have been created. Several of the footpaths have been universally designed and are easily accessible. Footpaths, steps and railings have been designed discreetly into the terrain, allowing Nature to play the lead. Skjervsfossen nature walk allows visitors to experience the waterfall in various ways and from various points. “The Edge” runs close to the edge of the waterfall, “the Shelf” and “the Lower Shelf” provide a dramatic and up-close view of the waterfall from two intermediary levels. “The Step” is located further into the landscape and connects the upper and lower levels. “The Shower” allows a close encounter with the wet element. At the beginning of the footpath that leads into the waterfall is a parking facility. Fortunen Architects has made a characteristic toilet, where the roof and walls are covered with large plates of natural stone, and with a steel door. 

To Skjervsfossen

Sluppen

On the way up from Lærdalsøyri to Aurlandsfjellet you will find Sluppen and the gushing waterfall in the Vardahaugselvi river.

Here, what used to be a parking lay-by has now been upgraded to a simple rest area with room for four cars and a picnic table with universal access.

The ambition has been to grasp the qualities of the area, enhance these and give the area a distinctive character that makes wayfarers want to take a rest stop here.

The rest area is delimited by an undulating natural stone parapet wall, inspired by the soft shapes of the surrounding riverscape. Local natural stone has been used, so that all walls, edges and steps blend naturally into the landscape.

The upper part of rest area has been gravelled and offers a pleasant and universally designed seating area, slightly elevated above the parking. A small information board tells visitors about possible hikes in the area.

For those who wish to take a stroll, there is a footpath with steps down to the river. The stone steps have been carefully laid in the landscape to minimize terrain interference and preserve existing trees. From the path you can walk across a bridge and access the terrain, either on a trail to the waterfall or further out in the landscape.

Along the path, there are two different seating areas with benches, placed somewhat away from the footpath itself. One is next to the trail, the other a little further out among the trees, along an existing trail. Here you will be able to find a little more tranquility than down by the rushing river.

To Sluppen