A cultural venue was my preferred choice because I wanted to design a space that connects people to each other and nature. I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying the beautiful Lofoten landscape, so it was a natural choice for me to create a space where others could also take a moment to experience the amazing natural diversity in Lofoten. When designing the building I was thinking about all kinds of visitors: hikers, surfers, yoga retreaters or nature enthusiasts.

Size and scale – how to make the building functional yet still a part of the landscape without dominating.  I tried to push the boundaries of the interior space and make the exterior appear part of the landscape. I have used wood and glass to reflect the natural environment, and to help the building blend in with its surroundings. The interior is spacious and functional yet it has a sense of calm that is an integral part of life in the Lofoten Islands.

The interior is focused on creating frames with different views of the landscape. The windows stretch from floor to ceiling so there’s no insolation to dampen the noise when it rains. For a building like this, calm acoustics are essential. The walls are clad in BAUX PULP. PULP is a beautiful material that also creates the right acoustic environment, so noises don’t reflect around the main space. The BAUX materials helped me to create the right aesthetic and natural feel. I’ve used earth browns and white wood wool tiles to make the space feel homely and cozy inside. I’ve also used BAUX products in the sauna to regulate humidity and store heat.

We’re constantly surrounded by so many stressful sounds and impulses in urban and city environments. I think we’re already feeling a need to reconnect with nature. If cities continue to grow, nature will soon become a vital part of our wellbeing as we feel the need to disconnect from technology and cityscapes. Silence will be golden. Ocean Pulse is an adaptive space for social interactions like dinners, conferences, birthday parties and yoga retreats, all of which promote social interaction and wellbeing. So connecting with nature doesn’t have to mean disconnecting from people.

The building’s weathered wooden structure forms part of the landscape with the glass windows reflecting water, sky and rock. To compensate for weather exposure, the pavilion is equipped with a weather protection system that covers each of the impressive skylight windows, which stretch the length of the roof to offer spectacular views of sky, sea and mountains.

Ocean Pulse has been designed to be easily assembled and dissembled so the landscape is not permanently altered. When dissembled the building will leave no trace. Timber used in construction is locally and sustainably sourced and BAUX PULP has been used to enhance the buildings sustainable footprint.

BAUX materials used: Acoustic Pulp. Acoustic Wood Wool Panels.