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Eggum Tourist Stop, Snohetta, national tourist route in norway, gabion baskets, local materials, tourist stop, driftwood

The Eggum Tourist Stop is located in the middle of the E10 Lofoten route on the north side of the archipelago. The rest area has a car park and service facilities with views of the water and surrounding landscape. It is known for being one of the best spots to observe the midnight sun. Snøhetta’s design upgraded the rest area to accommodate more cars and busses while offering improved services. The project consists of a service building contained within an amphitheater that holds restrooms and a small kitchen.

The terrain influenced the design of the site, and a concrete service building is built into the side of a hillside. Rock excavated to make a larger parking area was retained and used to fill gabion baskets, which form the retaining wall and amphitheater. The concrete and rock construction matches the ruins of the radar station on the hill that was also built of morainic stone. The entrance to the service building is made from locally sourced driftwood that was left untreated so it could weather and blend in with the surroundings. The rough and raw locally sourced materials give the facility a natural aesthetic.

Via Plataforma Arquitectura

Images ©Jarle Wæhler, Steinar Skaar and Snøhetta