Manshausen Island

The Lofoten archipelago, anchorage for the Hurtigruten ships, lies opposite the West Fjord of Manshausen and is only a stone's throw away. Just the right island, thought Norwegian polar adventurer Børge Ousland. In 2010, he bought Manshausen on the spur of the moment to show as many people as possible the uniqueness of the world north of the Arctic Circle.

He himself is infected with the ‘ice virus’: in addition to countless expeditions to the eternal ice, solo expeditions to the North and South Poles have established him as the leading explorer of polar regions (National Geographic Adventure, Feb. 2006). Børge Ousland has consistently implemented his plan on Manshausen. The focus of the design, architecture and interior decoration is on the only main protagonist – nature. Inside the huts, visitors experience the presence of nature through large panoramic windows. The polar lights or the summer solstice as a spectacle on the natural stage and the warm and comfortable living area are the box seats. After an active day kayaking, snorkelling, fishing or skiing in the solitude of the archipelago mountains, the cocoon of the cabin envelops you like a transparent protective layer.

Architect Snorre Stinessen from Tromso placed great importance on regional building materials. The houses are constructed from solid pine beams, the exterior façade is clad in larch, and the interior is dominated by birch as a symbol of Nordic design. Several international design manufacturers, including Duravit AG, supplied harmonious interiors. The washbasins, toilets and bathroom furniture from the DuraStyle series can be found in all the cabins' bathrooms.