The story of Stokkøya
Stokkøya Strandhotell and Strandbaren is owned and operated by Torild Langklopp, Roar Svenning, Ingrid Langklopp, and Niels Stagegaard.
Roar grew up on the Troningen farm near Hosnasand, where the story began when his parents ran a campsite as an additional source of income for tourists in need of simple accommodation. The waters around Stokkøya are well-suited for diving, and over time, the area developed into a base for visiting divers.
The building now known as the maritime center was originally used for accommodation, common areas, and dining. Its origins trace back to a farm building on the Botnan farm and later served as a workshop for small-scale industry.
Torild and Roar met at one of the diving gatherings, and from there, things progressed quickly. Together, they decided to invest in developing the location into an attractive destination.
The philosophy is built around the main elements of nature, architecture, food, and experiences (NAMO), and the interplay between these elements.
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Wild nature
"The nature is wild and beautiful, and quite untouched both on land and at sea, and the goal is to preserve this 'untouchedness' as much as possible.
Conservation and gentle use of nature have been absolutely essential throughout the development process, and guiding the projects has been the desire for
a strong interaction between nature and architecture, and between landscape and buildings."
The thoughts behind the architecture
In Middagshaugen, on the hill behind the beach, 26 plots were zoned for holiday homes, and in 2003, the development of the coastal houses began. The choice of a modern architectural style has been controversial – some liken the coastal houses to construction barracks, while at the Italian exhibition "Arktitettura e memoria" in Genoa, the project is showcased as a successful example of new European architecture.
The coastal houses are sold as holiday homes to private individuals, but some of these are also rented out through Stokkøya Strandhotell.
In 2005, construction of the Strandbaren began. Initially conceived as a "shack on the beach," a meeting place for cabin owners, its visitor base has expanded considerably over time. The Strandbaren is built on the ruins of an old cement factory established in 1947, which operated for about 30 years.
The building consists of large glass surfaces facing the sea, and on a clear summer evening, you can catch glimpses of the flashes of light from Halten Lighthouse, located approximately 16 nautical miles northwest out at sea. Much of the wood used is sourced from their own forest. In the fall of 2008, when the construction industry largely halted due to the crisis, ground was broken for the final addition: SUB-hus (Sleep Under the Ground or Sub-terrain).
After intense and hectic construction activity through the winter, and before the final coat of paint had dried, the beach hotel was inaugurated in early May 2009. Inspiration for the SUB cabins is drawn from the old underground cellars, protected within the sandbank, but daylight is introduced through large skylights in the
ceiling and floor-to-ceiling glass panels facing the sea. A significant reason for building the hotel into the sandbank is precisely to mitigate the effects of the intervention.
The building is primarily made of concrete and glass but is furnished with softer touches of various textiles and sailcloth, presenting a diverse and intricate selection of interior elements. We collaborated, among others, with the Högskolan för konst och design in Gothenburg and reused old elements from Troningen Gård and the shipbreaking yard in the interior design. Each room is uniquely decorated, as can be seen in the online booking photos. The architects behind the Coastal Houses, Strandbaren, and Sub-house are Ogmund Sørli and Ragnhild Erdal, from Pir 2 Arkitektkontor.
Excellent food and drinks
Roar's knowledge of local seafood ingredients from the sea contributed to him initiating the delivery of seafood to fine restaurants in Oslo and Trondheim,
and eventually expanding to export to Japan and France. These experiences, combined with his interest and a vast network of skilled chefs and food enthusiasts,
have played a significant role in placing a strong emphasis on culinary excellence in the development of Stokkøya Strandhotell.
Experiences, activities and relaxation
The starting point for all experiences out here is nature, whether one is enjoying a good meal with a stunning view, hiking in the cultural landscape, taking a sauna,
a hot tub, or a dip in the sea, or making use of toys like a sailboat, kayak, or fishing boat.
We encourage people to relax and take their time to soak in the nature from where they are. Perhaps the experience is simply doing nothing at all?
