Client: Hotel Richard With AS/PEAB Bjørn Bygg AS
Architect: Vis-A-Vis
Civil architect: Anne Cathrine Nessmo
Master of Architecture: Fredrik Martens Onarheim
Civil architect: John Johnsen
Interior architect: HAEG interior architecture Nina Haeg with Ine Bangås interior architect, Marianne Skarbøvik product and furniture designer
Participating artists: Espen Tollefsen
Furnishings: Menu, Hem, Hay, Expormim, Fredericia, Vipp, Northern, Moroso, B&B Italia, LK Hjelle, Ferm Living, Eikund, Essem, &Tradition, Mobel Copenhagen, Fritz Hansen, Norr11, Normann Copenhagen, Fogia, Gubi, Andersen Furniture, Choice leveranse, Vitra, Verpan, Lintex, Four design, Infurn /Denona, Karl Andersson, Brdr Krüger, Mater,
Lighting: &Tradition, Foscarini Örsjö, Handvärk studio, Northern, Zero, Muuto, Brokis
Rugs and curtains: Desistart, Kvadrat, &Tradition, Hem, Massimo, Volver, Silentgliss
Photos: Anne Bråtveit
In some places, being in touch with nature is essential – remote places with different rhythms where light floods the days in summer and plays hide-and-seek in winter, regaling us with phenomena like the midnight sun and the Northern Lights. It happens a lot up North, above the Arctic Circle. That is the location of a hotel whose interior was redesigned by Nina Haeg of Haeg Interiørarkitektur, beyond the 68th parallel north in the Norwegian archipelago of Vesterålen.
“The building overlooks the port and was named after businessman Richard With. In 1893 founded the express coastal service Hurtigruten that connects Bergen on the mainland with the islands of the fjords,” explains the designer. The eight-floor quality Hotel Richard With is the largest in the archipelago, overlooking the passage where the historic company’s ships shuttle between the islands.
It’s a magical view. Nina Haeg also created new jobs by hiring local workers for her stylistic revamping and made full use of local materials like oakwood, adorning the spaces with Scandinavian design brands and a few Italian pieces. The hotel’s color palette is inspired by that of the island. “The hotel is made of two wings, each with its own shade: rust red for the earth and mountains, and navy blue for the sea. This combination of palettes was also used in the walls, fabrics, and furniture,” she continues.
The 154 rooms including five suites are a celebration of Norwegian minimalism. The beautiful fabric headboards were inspired by traditional archipelago patterns; the bedspreads recall the colors of the Northern Lights; and photographs by local artist Espen Tollefsen decorate the walls. The same clean, minimalistic aesthetic and mix of old and new can be seen in the lobby, a massive space with double-height ceilings and huge side windows that filter the outside light.
Wood paneling is the backdrop for the Scandinavian design objects here. The carpets fade from brown to dark red and light sand. Terrazzo flooring alternates with oak slats. And various oak and brass details lend a timeless elegance.
“The mix of history, nature, and design is deliberate. With the lounges, waterfront terraces, and 1893 Franco-Scandinavian restaurant, I wanted to make the hotel a meeting place for locals as well,” concludes Nina Haeg. A year after its opening, we can safely say that she achieved that goal.
