«None of us were prepared for the amount of media attention we received,” said Stein Hamre Architects (SHAAS) when the Øvre Forsland power station opened in 2015. Read more about the powerful Norwegian power station.
Standing strong on a riverbed in the wilderness of Helgeland, Øvre Forsland power station is truly something to behold. Jagged shards of grey wood meet glass at irregular intervals, while water rushes at its base. It’s certainly more striking than the hydroelectric power plants we’re used to see.
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Sister plant Bjørnstokk
Its sister plant, Bjørnstokk, which was finished in 2017, is located in Tosbotn. Bjørnstokk reflects the beautiful surroundings and has a similar modern approach as Øvre Forsland, which has been referred to as the world’s most beautiful powerplant. Bjørnstokk is surrounded by huge rocks left over from the last ice age, the boulder-like station fits in perfectly with its surroundings.
And that’s just the point, Helgelandkraft, a Norwegian producer of hydraulic electricity, makes sure its power stations adapt to what’s around them. That’s why the company commissioned Stein Hamre Architects (SHAAS), one of the leading architectural firms in Norway, to design Øvre Forsland and Bjørnstokk.
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A power plant becomes an attraction
“Rather than trying to hide the huge construction, which would have been impossible, we decided to turn Øvre Forsland into an attraction, and hopefully also a destination for hikers,” said Stein Hamre. 80% of Norway’s electricity is produced with hydroelectric power.
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Stein Hamre Architects
The firm was the right choice. Consisting of 18 individuals with different areas of expertise, the work it produces, from furniture to large-scale buildings like these, is dynamic.
Since the plant opened in 2015, it has also become a popular hiking destination.
Powerful Norwegian Architecture, is based on promotion material from the SHAAS.