designs feste golden mountains sauna telemark
Aug 16, 2025
Karl van Es

Feste Designs Golden Sauna in the Mountains of Telemark

[caption id="attachment_9117" align="alignnone" width="2200"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption]  

SORIA MORIA SAUNA | FESTE LANDSKAP / ARKITEKTUR

Telemark, Norway Description provided by Feste Landskap / Arkitektur. A shingle-clad structure stands on the shore of the Bandak lake. Steep mountain-sides delve into deep waters, creating a dramatic vista. A whisk of fog lies gently on the surface.   [caption id="attachment_9114" align="alignnone" width="1500"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption]   Soria Moria is a project developed by the Telemark canal regional park in collaboration with Tokke municipality. The project is part of Tales of the Waterway, an overall art project for the Telemark canal, where art, architecture and lighting design are utilized to highlight the inherent qualities of the local landscape and traditions.   [caption id="attachment_9127" align="alignnone" width="1600"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9126" align="alignnone" width="1400"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption]   The characteristic silhouette of the structure is an architectural interpretation of the steep mountainsides surrounding the Bandak lake. The wooden shingle cladding is inspired by local building techniques. Integrated into the cladding are gleaming golden shingles. The gold is a reference to local folklore; to the mythical and outlandish. It also references the obvious contrast which arose between the uncultivated people of Telemark and lavish upper-class foreign travelers during the establishment of the nearby Dalen Hotel at the end of the 19th Century. The structure contains a sauna, a changing room and a covered seating area for taking in the views.   [caption id="attachment_9119" align="alignnone" width="1400"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9116" align="alignnone" width="1400"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9118" align="alignnone" width="1600"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9115" align="alignnone" width="2000"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9120" align="alignnone" width="1500"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption]   With the exception of the Sigurdsevja inlet, the water along the shoreline of the upper end of the Bandak lake is very shallow. The project is therefore constructed on stilts along the inlet to allow for bathing in the lake. The Sigurdsevja inlet is a precise and characteristic landscape formation, and the design of the walkway and sauna building aims to emphasizes this particular feature. The walkway becomes part of an existing network of footpaths along the lake, with connections to the nearby Dalen Hotel.   [caption id="attachment_9125" align="alignnone" width="1500"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9138" align="alignnone" width="1300"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9137" align="alignnone" width="1800"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9136" align="alignnone" width="1500"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9135" align="alignnone" width="2000"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9134" align="alignnone" width="1600"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9133" align="alignnone" width="1800"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9132" align="alignnone" width="1400"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption]   The design has been developed by a Nordic design team consisting of architect David Fjågesund (Feste Landscape / Architecture), landscape architect Inge Dahlman (Landskapsfabrikken), lighting designer Tobias Olsson (ÅF Lighting), artist Maira Änquist Klyvare and Design Team Leader Lars Haakanes (Fes-te Landscape / Architecture). The contractors Skorve built the project, using mainly local materials.   [caption id="attachment_9131" align="alignnone" width="1800"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9130" align="alignnone" width="1800"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9129" align="alignnone" width="1400"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9124" align="alignnone" width="2500"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9123" align="alignnone" width="2100"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9122" align="alignnone" width="2300"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9121" align="alignnone" width="1600"]Soria Moria Sauna in Telemark by Feste © Dag Jenssen[/caption]  

Project Details

Project name: Soria Moria sauna Architect’ Firm: Feste Landscape / Architecture Website: www.feste.no Contact e-mail: df@feste.no Lead Architects: David Fjågesund Design Team Leader: Lars Haakanes Project location: Dalen, Norway Completion Year: 2018 Gross Built Area (square meters or square foot): 39sqm Photo credits: Dag Jenssen Photographer’s website: https://foto.dagjen.no/ Other participants: Client: Telemark canal regional park in collaboration with Tokke municipality