Posts Tagged Things to see
Solbergfoss Power Station
Posted by admin in History and architecture on October 19, 2010
Enjoying a great location by a scenic stretch of the River Glomma north of Askim in Indre Østfold, at the end of an equally pretty road, this is a real find, and a must see in this area. Solbergfoss hydroelectric power station consists of two stations: the impressive Solbergfoss I, which was completed in 1924 (the oldest, and actually the only one visible from outside the complex); and the newer Solbergfoss II, built inside the mountainside, which opened in 1985.
The first power station was designed by Bredo Greve, one of the leading Norwegian architects of the time. The construction of Solbergfoss I was a complicated job, made worse by the lack of construction material and shortage of staff, several strikes among building workers, and steep price increases. It was a huge building site – as many as 700 men worked here simultaneously (two of whom died when a hanging bridge collapsed during construction).
It is Solbergfoss II, the newer plant, however, which is in use year round, as it is the most efficient of the two, while Solbergfoss I is only used at times of floods as a reserve station. The Kaplan turbine in Solbergfoss II is Norway’s largest, with a diametre of 8.3m. It weighs a whopping 170 tons. When fully opened, it lets through 600 cubic metres of water every second.
There is a little park around the complex, which makes a good picnic spot, and on the other side of the river, which you can cross via a bridge over the waterfall, you will find an outdoors exhibition with black and white photos depicting the construction of Solbergfoss I and II.
Østfold in Pictures: Vetatoppen
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on October 13, 2010
Top 5: Observation towers in Østfold
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on October 13, 2010
- Linnekleppen: On the border between Marker and Rakkestad municipalities in Indre-Østfold, this fire watchtower, the only one still manned in the summer months in Norway, affords great views of the huge forests in the area. The trail to the tower is well marked, and the walk is a nice one, going through varied terrain. More info at www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/10/walk-linnekleppen/
- Haukesnesfjellet: In remote Rømskog, this tower, operated by the local DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) is open year round. From the top you can see, once again, vast expanses of forest, but also Lake Rømsjøen, one of the prettiest in Østfold, shimmering in the distance. Another great walk. More info at www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/02/08/
- Sprinkelet: This tower, close to the radio and TV antenna perched high on the hills just outside Fredrikstad, is a popular observation point with many locals. On the east side you will recognise many of the town’s landmarks (the big arch of the bridge, the yellow twin towers of the hospital, the spire of the cathedral), while in the other direction you can make out the Hvaler Islands in the distance. Binoculars are at the disposal of visitors. The track starts from just behind Gressvik IF football pitch.
- Vardeåsen, Rygge: An easily accessible tower only a short walk from the main road. From the top of the tower, you will be greeted with a fantastic panorama over the Oslofjord. You can see as far as Telemark to the west, and even make out Gaustatoppen on a clear day.
- Dragonkulen: Although this one is not located in Østfold, but on the other side of Svinesund in Sweden, I had to include this tower here, as this is one of the best Østfold panoramas I know, with the Iddefjord in the foreground, the Oslofjord and the Hvaler Archipelago in the background, and hills and fields in between. You can also make out the towns of Halden, Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad, giving a great overview of the county.
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A couple of other good options, which I had no room for above, include Vetatoppen between Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg (easy access from Vardeveien), and Rørfjell tower near Tomb, Råde (used by some for abseiling).
See also ‘Top 5: Vantage points in Østfold’ here (www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/05/31/)
Blocks of rock become works of art
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Uncategorized on September 21, 2010
Johansen’s Stone Quarry, Skjeberg
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Uncategorized on September 21, 2010
Ever been to a stone quarry? No, neither had I. Until, urged by a local acquaintance, I visited Johansens Monumenthuggeri in Skjeberg near Sarpsborg last month. Turned out to be very interesting, as it happens. This quarry, the largest of its kind in Norway, produces gravestones, cobble stones and the like, but what makes it really special is that it also attracts its fair share of artists.
Some 80-90 of them come to work here every year, including some big names like Kristian Blystad, one of Norway’s most famous contemporary sculptors. Even Morten Harket and Magne Furuholmen, of a-ha fame, both of whom are keen amateur sculptors, have spent some time here. Really. The quarry even has its own artist in residence, Kazuhiro Nomura, a Japanese sculptor from Nagoya, who has been coming to Norway for several years now. He spends his summers in his outdoor studio at Johansen’s, making good use of the natural light and a vast array of very specialised tools the quarry puts at his disposal.
The quarry imports stones from all over the world, as well as using local stones such as Iddefjord granite or Larvik stone (Larvikitt). The blocks of white Italian marble that were used for the new Opera House in Oslo were cut here. The quarry, now in the hands of the fifth generation of Johansens, handles a lot of similar big projects.
Walking around all these statues in the making is a surreal experience. Behind the workshop is a big open space where discarded artworks await their fate amid big blocks of rock and piles of gravel. Last summer they held a light and sound show here. I can imagine the quarry walls, cut straight in the mountain side, making quite a special background for it. I’ll most certainly check it out next year.
Skjebergveien 206, Klavestadhaugen (offices). Tel: 69 16 36 33, www.johansenmonument.no. Visits by appointment only.
Modern design in ancient landscape
Posted by admin in History and architecture, News on August 26, 2010
The Solberg Tower (Solbergtårnet)
Posted by admin in History and architecture, News on August 26, 2010
The brand new Solberg Tower (Solbergtårnet) by the E6 motorway in Skjeberg was officially opened today. The tower, which is almost 30m high, and cost 50 million kroner to build, was designed by Todd Saunders, the Canadian architect behind the popular Stegastein viewpoint in Aurland, western Norway. It’s a joint project between the Norwegian Public Road Administration (Statens vegvesen), the county of Østfold and the municipalities of Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad. The view from the top floor is enticing enough, but the main reason for building the tower here was to highlight the many sites dating back to the Bronze Age along the nearby Oldtidsveien. Facilities at the Solberg Tower include a lift, toilets, rest area and information panels (in Norwegian and English) on the various attractions in the area, as well as maps of the different sites.
More on Oldtidsveien at http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/10/26/
More on the Stegastein viewpoint at http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/04/stegastein-viewing-platform/
Photos of the Solberg Tower under construction at http://www.sa.no/lokale_nyheter/article5185109.ece
Top 10: Modern architecture in Norway
Posted by admin in History and architecture on August 23, 2010
Interested in modern architecture? Here are 10 buildings, all built in the past 10 years, that should be top of your itinerary on your next visit to Norway.
- Oslo Opera House: Designed by Norwegian architects Snøhetta, Oslo’s new landmark has been an instant success with both locals and tourists. An impressive 1.3 million visited in the first year of opening alone. The opera has also won an array of awards, including the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Prize (2007).
- Mortensrud Church, Oslo: An unusual, ultra-modern church on the outskirts of Oslo, where stone, timber, glass and the surrounding nature have all been integrated into the design to create a peaceful atmosphere (2002).
- New Gyldendal’s Headquarters, Oslo: The latest project by acclaimed architect Sverre Fehn before his death in February 2009. Norway’s largest publishers had grown too big for their old headquarters. The challenge was to retain the old structure while rebuilding the inside – which Sverre and his team managed with brio (2007).
- Hamsun Center, Nordland: Dedicated to Norway’s most famous novelist, the centre opened in August 2009 on Hamarøy, near the farm where he grew up, and dominates the surrounding countryside. The dark wood exterior is designed to evoke stave churches, and the long grass of the roof garden to reflect traditional Norwegian turf roofs.
- Sail Hotel, Molde: Named ‘the Sail’ because of its shape, this modern glass hotel on the Molde waterfront doubles up as a huge mirror in which the surrounding Romsdal Alps and the ever-changing sky are reflected to stunning effect (2002).
- Petter Dass Museum, Nordland: Another building by Snøhetta, this one at Alstahaug. The museum was completed in 2007 to mark 300 years since the death of the famous Helgeland poet. Cut into solid rock, with the front jutting out towards the sea, the building has been cleverly integrated in the landscape to symbolize a link between the past and the future.
- Stegastein viewpoint, Aurland: One of the most stunning structures along 18 tourist roads, a government-led project aiming to enhance the driving experience in Norway by incorporating interesting architecture along some of the country’s busiest roads (2006). More info at http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/04/27/
- Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, near Stavanger: At the starting point to the famous hike, this building is part of a project promoting environmentally-friendly timber technology in modern architecture (2008). By Helen & Hard AS, the team behind the Norway Pavilion at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
- Florvågøen, Askøy, outside Bergen: This unusual, cubist-looking block of flats, built by Link Signature on a small island previously used for industry, is newly completed (2009) and houses 170 units, complete with their own marina. Other houses of interest near Bergen are Villa Storingavika and Villa G, both by Saunders Architecture – although these are private homes, so visiting will require an invitation.
- Svinesund Bridge, Østfold, Norway/Sweden: Opened to traffic in June 2005, this modern concrete and steel structure spans the Iddefjord in a single arch of 247m reaching 30m at is highest point – and 60m below. The bridge marks the border between Sweden and Norway on the E6. More info at http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/10/338/
For info on modern architecture in Østfold, see http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/01/modern-architecture-in-østfold/
Østfold in Pictures: Skjeberg Church
Posted by admin in History and architecture, Photos and videos on August 17, 2010
