Arctic & urbane
Photography: Matthew Gormly
Above the Arctic Circle, Snorre Stinessen has created a refined retreat amidst the harsh beauty of the Northern Norwegian coast. Aurora Lodge is part chalet, part home and shared between five owners. “It’s an escape. A place to connect with nature and disconnect from the everyday hectic life.”
Very much a homage to its environment, Snorre didn’t explicitly set out to create something stunning, but equally…“We were not looking to make a building that would only blend in with the surroundings, but also a design that would showcase the nature coexisting with the structure.” By his own admission, Snorre produced an ambitious design. Technically complex, far from anywhere, with a short time frame to do the actual building, Snorre was also very conscious that they were there to enjoy the local scenery, not crush it under construction machinery. The lightweight and slim materials of the structure belie their ability to withstand ‘more-than hurricane’ wind and massive snow loads.
“Favourite part of the house? It’s the kitchen. It’s a separate space for the more social aspects of being here.”
Snorre Stinessen
Set apart, like a social observatory, the kitchen is the main social space. It was difficult for the functional and aesthetic aspects of the kitchen to be incorporated into a room that literally bends to the will of the landscape. The result is a kitchen that beautifully solves all the functional needs with an EB333 in pride of place at the end of the island that offers Vario 400 series downdraft, induction and gas cooktop. The fridge-freezer and wine climate cabinet form a central pillar at the other end of the central island.
Gaggenau appliances bring a superior level of sophistication to this arctic outpost, enabling elevated living above the 65th parallel, as Snorre says: “Gaggenau is simply the best quality I know of. It fits very well with the Bulthaup kitchen and of course I also like the aesthetics.”
This home is defined by its location, offering luxurious shelter from the inhospitable conditions, allowing the gourmand to not just get-by, but to thrive. When asked to describe this treasured building in just three words, Snorre struggled. Starting strong with ‘respectful’ and ‘bold’ he then couldn’t narrow down just one word to encapsulate how the environment and home change your behaviour as you fall into the rhythm of the all important daylight. He briefly considered ‘challenging’ before, perhaps unhappy with any negative connotation, rejected it saying: “Bold, respectful… Well, perhaps just two.”
“One of the owners is very sound-sensitive, so finding a dishwasher that makes as little noise as possible was important. That would be his number one appliance.”
Snorre Stinessen
