The Snøhetta team designed a unique resting space and tidal installation in Traelvikosen in Norway. The ‘Norwegian Public Roads Administration’ has established a series of experiences for road travelers through its ‘Norwegian Scenic Routes’ program: along selected roads in Norway, natural wonders are amplified by art, design, and architecture, offering thought-provoking art in spectacular scenery. The selected roads run through landscapes with unique natural qualities, along coasts and fjords, mountains and waterfalls, and are intended as alternatives to the main roads. Snøhetta’s design at Traelvikosen offers the opportunity to walk into nature itself: 55 stepping stones placed in the water in a horizontal line, contrasting with the soft shapes of nature, and taking the visitor across the sandy sea bottom, from the beach towards a small islet and the view of Torghatten mountain. It becomes a fluid experience in line with the tidal level: fully visible at low tide and completely gone at high tide. As the tide retracts and advances, new details and perspectives are revealed, minute by minute, inch by inch. Intentionally designed to make visitors slow down and observe, learn, and sense what is going on, the installation invites visitors to be immersed in nature, experiencing it, rather than just passing by or watch from a distance. The sandy bottom of Trælvikosen contains beautiful natural elements and these natural details are all exposed as the tide rises, inch by inch, and then covered, as the tide recedes: the picture changes quickly throughout the day. Traelvikosen is located by a river estuary in the inner part of a fjord arm, just north of small city Brønnøysund. The shallow river estuary, in combination with the large tidal differences, makes the experience change considerably throughout the day. The tidal installation was tested for a full year with four stones, and the conclusion was not to cast the foundation, but to use crushed stone for stability. The team was challenged also while installing the stones themselves, as there was a 4-hour window only, before water took charge of the site. As a landscape project, sustainability is inherent, and Trælvikosen was meticulously planned to avoid unnecessary footprints or disturbances: the steppingstones themselves are locally sourced, carved and processed by Evjen Granitt in Bodø, then transported by boat to the site. Read more: Snøhetta
