A Good Catch: Holmen Industrial Area Fishery Complex by Snøhetta

As part of an archipelago in northern Norway that benefits from the Gulf Stream, Vesterålen offers ideal conditions for the fishing industry. The Holmen Industrial Area, which measures around 6,000 m², has been built on a plot of land that borders the sea directly to the west.

Snøhetta have developed the project around a monumental structure that resembles a freighter ship and is the headquarters of Holmøy Maritime. One of its longitudinal sides opens onto the water with panoramic glazing. The building is raised on supports and clad in dark façade plates. These are interrupted by wooden elements which surround the structure at regular intervals and give it a certain rhythm.

The interior spaces of the headquarters take up the colour palette of the exterior. Light-coloured wood cladding on the ceiling, walls and floors complement sleek, white surfaces. The design is rounded out with bright accents in the form of columns and furnishings. Nevertheless, it is the breathtaking views over the rugged natural landscape of Norway and the sea that really bring the company’s head office to life. Moreover, the windows have a positive effect on the indoor climate in that they regulate lighting and ventilation.

Towards the mainland, a guesthouse first joins onto the main block, followed by the remaining tracts. The individual volumes have been arranged in the Holmen Industrial Area with consideration for optimized, efficient operations, from the delivery of the fish, to processing, freezing and storage facilities, to export. The architects have loosened up these structures’ functional, silvery-grey aluminum façades with coloured panels. In orange, red, yellow and green, these serve not only to enhance the fishery’s appearance, but to act as an orientation tool over the extensive industrial grounds as well.

A signage system that runs through the individual structures like a red line is a linking element for the Holmen Industrial Area. In addition, the design of the complex inspired Snøhetta to give the Holmøy Maritime fishery a new corporate identity.