After discovering an abandoned World War II bunker while on a hike in northern Norway, Henrik Lande Andersen spent two years transforming this former German lookout into an overnight refuge open to all.
Over the course of two years, Henrik made the hike from town – the only way to access the site – carrying pieces of salvaged construction material to build a roof, door, windows, beds, table, and kitchen cabinets.
During World War II, northern Norway was a strategic outpost (as a transport route for Swedish iron ore), and the German Army built hundreds of bunkers here. Henrik’s bunker—that he’s dubbed Utsikten, or “The View”—was likely built by Ukrainian prisoners of war. The rocky mountain face was first blasted with dynamite and then filled in with concrete and rock.
Using materials found in the trash, Henrik estimates he spent the equivalent of about $500 to create the shelter. He even enlisted six friends to carry a heavy iron stove up the mountain on planks.
Today anyone who finds the path from town can hike up to the site and spend the night. The sign on the door reads “ no key, feel free,” and hundreds of people have slept in the space since Henrik finished it.
The place isn’t sanctioned by a local government, but in Norway, there’s a right to roam law that allows anyone to camp anywhere, as long as it’s not encroaching on someone’s home or privacy and doesn’t cause any damage.
Henrik was 18 when he moved there from Oslo, attracted by the rugged nature. He made a film about his two-year experience building, and at times living in, this historic refuge.
“What I wanted with the project was to turn the place on its head, what it was historically. It was about war and abuse of power and I wanted to turn it to the opposite, like a sanctuary, a place where everyone is welcome and to transform the history to something new.”
You can watch the video at www.youtube.com