Espeneset Service area. Hovland. Norway. 2022.

Espeneset is part of the Norwegian National Tourist Routes located on the Sørfjorden between Kinsarvik and Odda in Hardanger. The unique construction, made from 6 mm thick steel plates, offers shelter and rest area facilities with a spectacular view of the fjord.

The construction is entirely made of stainless steel. The double-curved steel plates span 8 m with only 6 mm plate thickness. The varying height in the 12 roof modules is structurally crucial for the steel to be stable. The construction is 64 meters long, 4 meters wide and 9 meters high. The total weight of the steel is approx. 35 tons.

Espeneset has two functional zones: a picnic area that is covered with a long roof pavilion, and a service building that contains a technical room and four toilets. The steel plates were produced off-site, then transported and welded together on-site. The structure was then attached to the stainless steel columns and installed over a concrete base. Under the curved roof sections, visitors experience the spectacular landscape and changing light which is reflected in the steel plates overhead.

The project won the European Steel Award (ESDA) in 2023 and the Norwegian Steel Award in 2023.