Holmen Production Facility
New addition to the headquarters of Holmøy
2019–2024
Introduction
In the archipelago of Vesterålen in Northern Norway, on the eastern side of Sortlandssundet, Snøhetta has designed an addition to the colorful headquarters of Holmen Industrial Area. The new production facility, which houses four large production halls, a warehouse, and a tank farm, is dimensioned to process 150 tonnes of fish a day.
Technical details
Holmøy Maritime
Like its neighbouring cluster of buildings housing offices and storage halls for shipowner Holmøy Maritime, the new production facility stands out yet still respects the surrounding pristine North Norwegian landscape. Oriented toward the water of Sortlandssundet, with a 54-meter-long deep-water harbor bordering the Norwegian Sea, the building houses technically advanced equipment and excellent work premises that meet the requirements for hygiene, safety, and comfort for the employees.
The body of the building has a steel shell and hollow slabs. The sandwich structure of the walls is partly covered with Alucobond façade panels in different colors, inspired by the play of colors on the shore. In addition to adding a pop of color, the extra layer creates a composition that adds character and increases resilience to the harsh coastal climate. The Alucobond plates can also be easily reused if needed. The roof of the building is covered with foil.
All photos: Sebastian S. Bjerkvik
Seawater is used to heat and cool the building, in combination with a 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.
Production halls
The inside of the building is roughly divided into two parts – one part for the employees and management's premises, and one part for the production line. The majority of the volume goes to the production facilities, with its four large industrial halls where the fish move through the steps of the process and packing. This part is characterized by advanced technical facilities and strict requirements for temperature and cleaning. The production facility was therefore planned first, and the building was secondly formed around it. This ensures optimal flow with clear walkways and good use of the volume.
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.
As the client originally wanted a visitor's center as a part of the complex, arrangements have been made for the possibility of this to be added later without having to make any major changes.
Social zones and recreation
It was a clear guideline that the well-being of the employees should be prioritized highly at the industrial plant. Windows facing the spectacular nature have therefore been facilitated in the production halls. Open spaces with large glass surfaces and good recreational areas are also provided. Three major skylights have been installed to ensure daylight even deep inside the large building.
Different zones and areas for relaxation are prioritized, and a large terrace outside the canteen can be used both during breaks and for various events. Drivers who occasionally have to wait a long time for their trailers to be loaded and unloaded have their own rooms with kitchens and bathrooms at their disposal.
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. A contrasting curry yellow and a warm bronze are taken from the shoreline.
The new production facility overlooks Holmøy's administration premises and several associated buildings, which were built between 2014 and 2022.
Inside, 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 brightly lit production halls. Blue also follows the employees from the entrance and through the changing rooms, as well as along the corridors into the other parts of the building.
The administration area is kept in a green and natural pine wood palette, while red color 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. Warm and close lighting contributes to this contrast.
Three large staircases in acid-green painted steel stand in stark contrast to the surrounding palettes while tying the zones together.
Signage and wayfinding
The subtle yet informative and functional wayfinding and signage concept was developed for the previous Holmen projects, and imprints both the inside and outside of the facility. 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. The materials are in line with hygiene and production considerations.
Shells and fish bones have been used both in contrast marking and on signs, and elements have then been taken further into the iconography. The naming of rooms and areas is based on either fish or place names from the local area.
