Manshausen Island, Norway
Snorre Stinessen’s Two Towers at Manshausen is an example of how modern architecture can harmonize with nature showcasing the importance of sustainable design and the potential for architecture to create a peaceful coexistence between human habitation and natural landscapes.
For its conceptual design, the Two Towers at Manshausen has been recently awarded a 2024 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The towers are positioned on the edge of a stone quay on the island that once housed a larger coal storage, at the time the island was part of the waterway network of the fishing industry of old.
The burnt wooden cladding of the towers both gives a nod back to that coal and also a stark contrast to the reflective façades of the Manshausen 2.0 sea cabins.
The charred black absorbs the light almost creating visually negative space.
The design is a mix of influence by traditional wooden constructions and a step into the future, energy independent with the sloping south wall entirely covered in solar panels.
While the Manshausen sea cabin designs endeavor to remove the visual barrier between outside and inside, cantilevering the guests on protected viewing platforms, the towers frame a very private view of the sea in the living room downstairs and open the entire ceiling to the skies above in the bedroom area upstairs.
The cabins each have a custom-designed queen-size bed upstairs, with DUX mattresses.
Upstairs also features a hidden work desk that folds down from the wall, a small balcony that also provides shelter above the entrance door below, and a silent aircon hidden under the bed.
A generous winding stairway connects the two floors, with an extra bed tucked away privately under part of it.
A multi-functional central box packs the technical equipment, but also cabinets with a mini-bar, coffee machine, storage space, and the bathroom.
The bathroom is both a functional size space but also features custom design elements and top-line wellness products from Grohe, including the spacious shower.
Facing the front and undisturbed sea view is a compact living room, tailored to a generous blue Tufty-Time sofa from B&B Italia. Lighting is provided either by integrated LED strips or a selection of Tolomeo lamps from Artemide.
The exterior shou sugi ban cladding is made from burnt (carbonized) larch. The main construction and exposed interior walls and stairway etc from cross-laminated timber construction (CLT), with interior quality from Novatop.
The glass front wall and ceiling are made from structural glazing. The fourth wall is entirely clad in solar panels.
Project: Two Towers at Manshausen
Architects: Snorre Stinessen Arkitektur
Lead Architect: Snorre Stinessen
Contractor: Byggingeniør Einar Olsen
Client: Børge Ousland AS
Photographs: Courtesy of the Architects
