Bodø harbour investment- building an Arctic adventure centre at sea

- "Building a sauna in the middle of the Arctic seascape isn't just about shaping space - it's about creating something that makes people feel. That's what makes this project so special," says architect Sif Steinthorsdottir of Norconsult.

She comes from Iceland, where bathing culture is an integral part of everyday life. She has now designed a floating sauna and heated saltwater bathing facility for the Ramsalt area in Bodø, which will invite people to warm meetings, hot and cold baths in genuine northern Norwegian nature.

Architecture for the senses

The project name RAW - Ramsalt Arctic Water - encompasses more than just a quay. It's about creating a destination. With fjords, mountains and cities in view, visitors will experience contrasts. Fire and ice, light and dark, quiet reflection and lively community.

- This is no ordinary spa. It is a meeting place for the city's inhabitants and visitors, right between the sea and the architecture. A space for the senses and a place to really feel the elements," says Steinthorsdottir.

The choice of Steinthorsdottir as architect is no coincidence. Erling Ole Berg-Hansen, CEO of Christian Jakhelln AS, explains that the RAW project team was inspired by Icelandic bathing culture.

- ‘We wanted to bring in expertise and insight from a culture where bathing and well-being are deeply rooted in both everyday life and architecture,’ says Berg-Hansen.

Sauna and social vibe on floating docks 

The Hot & Salty sauna and sauna village is being built on floating docks at the far end of Ramsalt. The facility will include wood-fired saunas, showers, hot saltwater baths, relaxation rooms with views and stairs leading down to the sea.

It will be open and accessible, with multiple access points from the harbour promenade and Sjøgata in Bodø. From the facility you will be able to look out over the fjord, and towards the city - in the middle of a vibrant coastline where large ships sail past, and the industrial character gives the place a distinctive atmosphere of both power and character.

Berg-Hansen emphasises the importance of the project for Bodø and Ramsalt.

- "We've spent a long time talking to various stakeholders, understanding what's going on and what the city needs. We believe this is a project that adds something completely new and important - both for Bodø residents and visitors.

Tijs Holstein, project manager for Destination Ramsalt, also emphasises how the facility will be integrated into the cityscape.

- "The jetty will be a natural extension of the harbour promenade and a new meeting place on the waterfront. There will be catering, boat trips and a vibrant cultural scene that attracts people to the sea," he says.

For Holstein, who has a deep love of saunas, the project is about more than architecture.

- "It's a dream project. A sauna experience on a grand scale, with everything from warm saltwater pools to relaxation rooms - in the midst of northern Norwegian nature and climate. There's hardly anything like it anywhere in the world," says the project manager.

A boost for Bodø as a destination

Arve Pedersen, CEO of Hundholmen Byutvikling, is looking forward to seeing the results when the facility is completed in autumn 2025.

- "We've been working on this for several years, and now it's happening. For the city, it means a strong boost in the range of experiences on offer. It gives an advantage for tourism, the conference market and not least for the local population. ‘This is about building identity and quality of life,’ says Pedersen.

He explains that the programme is also about aesthetics and quality of experience. "A great deal of emphasis has been placed on architecture and materials that both withstand the climate and emphasise the location. The colours, wood and shapes are based on the northern Norwegian light and landscape.

- Hundholmen Byutvikling has been keen to emphasise cultural values in the architecture, and has involved both myself and the Finnish architect Sami Rintala in the development. It's about understanding the role of bathing culture in an Arctic context," says Steinthorsdottir.

The facility will also include pergolas and outdoor spaces, and eventually restaurants and meeting places. The raw material is the northern Norwegian coastal climate. The aim is to create an inclusive, vibrant place that gives a new pulse to city life in Bodø.

- "We've created something completely unique here. Something that is both inspired by other places, but which grows out of this very place. I'm looking forward to swimming here myself when it's ready," says Steinthorsdottir with a smile.

Facts about RAW - Ramsalt Arctic Water

• Project name: RAW - Ramsalt Arctic Water
• Signature facility: Hot & Salty - sauna and saltwater facility with an Arctic wellness profile
• Location: On floating docks at the far end of the Ramsalt area, along Bodø's harbour promenade.
• Project manager: Hundholmen Byutvikling and owner Christian Jakhelln AS
• Architecture: Sif Steinthorsdottir (Iceland) in collaboration with Sami Rintala (Finland)
• Content:
  • Wood-fired saunas
  • Sea bath and warm saltwater pool
  • Pergolas, outdoor spaces and meeting places
  • Future catering and cultural activities
  • Quay for rib boats and sea experiences (Brim Explorer and Rampen RIB)
• Objective: To create a new social and sensory destination in the city, connected to the sea
• Characteristics: Built on the sea in an Arctic climate - inspired by Nordic bathing culture
• Planned opening: End of 2025
• Target group: Locals, travellers, conference guests and sauna enthusiasts.