The Snøhetta studio has designed a tidal stone path in Traelvikosen in northern Norway that invites travelers to stop, contemplate nature, and experience the passing of time.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has been developing scenic routes for the past thirty years that offer a range of experiences for travelers and alternatives to main roads. These construction projects are located along coasts and fjords, mountains and waterfalls. In 2022, Snøhetta designed a facility in Trælvikosen, which is part of the Norwegian Scenic Route program. This rest area allows you to walk through nature on 55 steps placed in a straight line in the water, overlooking the Norwegian Sea. Made of granite and 500 millimeters wide, they make the path accessible to two people passing each other. For Snøhetta, the Traelvikosen Scenic Route aims to provoke “new thoughts about nature and how we care for it in the future.”
Time as inspiration
The installation invites every visitor to immerse himself or herself in the environment and experience it rather than walk past or look at it from afar. “If we really want to take care of our nature, we need more people to see it and get to know it,” explains landscape architect Thea Hartmann Kvamme. “We wanted to make sure here that they stay longer than normal.” Visible at low tide and submerged at high tide, this stone path becomes a sensory experience via the sandy seabed from the beach to a small islet, overlooking Helgeland’s Torghatten Mountain. The weather is the main inspiration for the Norwegian firm, but it remains another. “These are the round stones formed by nature over time,” emphasizes the landscape architect. “By placing the cobblestones in alignment, we wanted to awaken the awareness and curiosity of travelers.” This road conceals all kinds of natural beauty, constantly changing throughout the day.
Norway – Traelvikosen
Nathalie Dassa
Photo credits Snøhetta
