Snøhetta
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Snøhetta reveals state-of-the-art production facility for family fishery

Snøhetta has designed a new extension to the colorful headquarters of Holmøy Maritime in Vesterålen. The facility, which houses four production halls, a storage hall, and a tank farm, is over 16,000 square meters and designed to process 150 tonnes of fish in a day.

The collaboration between Holmøy Maritime and Snøhetta spans over many years, and includes the design of the company's administration premises and several industrial buildings that were built in the period 2014-2021. The new facility is located on the neighboring site at Liland outside Sortland, and is characterized by transparency – both with large windows and natural light into the production halls, but also between the visitor and the production line at the facility.

All photos: Sebastian S. Bjerkvik

Seawater is used to heat and cool the building, in combination with a heat exchanger and heat pump. Filtered seawater is also used in production, and several kilometres of seawater pipelines have been laid in the fjord just outside the plant.

Holistic architecture

“We have continued to collaborate with Snøhetta as architect to create a separate identity for the building, and to ensure a holistic architecture. One of the main focuses of this building is to be able to show in a transparent way how production takes place, while at the same time creating pleasant and adapted workplaces for the employees with large glass surfaces," says CEO Knut R. Holmøy of Holmøy Maritime.

The entire construction period was completed in only two years. At its peak, around 120 people were operating on the construction site at the same time.

The new production facility overlooks Holmøy's administration premises and several associated buildings, which were built between 2014 and 2022.

"The collaboration with Snøhetta as an architect and designer on our buildings gives us an unique opportunity to create something special. Their understanding of color, construction and architectural details ensures that our buildings are both functional and inspiring workplaces that promote well-being. Their ability to read the company's needs is important to us, and a design based on that has yielded results," says Holmøy.

"Snøhetta is grateful for the trust we have been shown, and happy that we have been part of yet another chapter in the history of Holmøy Maritime. Holmøy really makes a difference as they choose to invest in the local community with this new production facility and prioritize architecture and the design of good workplaces for their employees," says Nina M. Solsrud, Snøhetta Project Lead and Quality Manager.

Transparency

The production area takes up the majority of the volume. The fish is transported through four large industrial halls on its way from the sea. Because of advanced technical facilities and strict requirements for temperature and cleaning, the production facility was planned first, before the building with the other functions was formed around it. This has ensured good flow with clear walkways in the building.

On the floor above the production halls, a glassed walkway zig-zags through the building, allowing visitors to learn and explore the process by looking down into the production facilities. On the opposite side, facing the sea outside, windows provide a contrast – and at the same time context – to the processing that takes place inside the factory.

It was clear from the start that the well-being of the employees should be prioritized highly at the industrial plant. Therefore, the employees' and management's premises are characterized by open spaces with glass surfaces, and good recreational areas. Three major skylights have been installed to ensure daylight even deep inside the large building.

Color scale

Three main colors have been chosen for the exterior, and three for the inside of the building. Outdoors, the main color is a deep blue that changes with the light and allows both clouds and the sea to be reflected in the glossy façade. The contrasting ochre yellow and brown-orange is taken from the shoreline.

Indoors, the three colors follow the walkways of the building. The production halls have a blue hygiene floor. The sparsely lit viewing corridors in a dark blue and turquoise palette, provide a proper background for looking down into the bright lit production halls.

The administration area is kept in a green and natural pine wood palette, while red tones and the same wood characterize the canteen and the employees' break areas.

Great contrasts have been deliberately created between the production halls and the break areas, so that the employees who wear work clothes and work in industrial lighting on a daily basis experience a significant change when going for a break. A warm and close lighting contributes to this contrast.

Wayfinding and design

A subtle yet informative and functional wayfinding and signage concept imprints both the inside and outside of the facility. Shells and fish bones have been used both in contrast marking and on signs, and elements have then been taken further into the iconography.

Typographically, inspiration has been taken from the maritime and industrial, with a tight and dense font. This has been supplemented in places with a stencil font with associations to shipping and marking of vessels.

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