Copenhagen-based multidisciplinary architecture and design studio Norm Architects has completed the interior design for Restaurant Iris, a unique experiential dining concept set on a Norwegian fjord. Norm Architects embraces a thoughtful, tactile, and minimal approach to design, with an emphasis on enriching the human experience. At Restaurant Iris, a blend of bespoke furniture, soft lighting, and natural materials combine to create a warm and welcoming ambience, the perfect contrast and complement to the restaurant’s water-based ethereal home: “Salmon Eye”.
Salmon Eye, an other-worldly floating experience center, was created by Danish exhibition design studio Kvorning Design for the aquaculture industry and originally unveiled in September 2022. Glistening in the heart of Norway’s Hardangerfjord in Vestland, Western Norway, this truly unique 1,000-square-meter (10,764-square-feet) sculpture was conceived with a vision to “inspire and inform the world on how to better feed the planet with sustainable seafood.” The ellipsoid design is based on a salmon’s eye (hence the name) and is covered in 9,250 high-grade stainless steel plates — shaped like fish scales, they emulate a salmon’s shiny, silvery skin. Measuring 15 meters (49 feet) in height and 26 meters (85 feet) in length and width, Salmon Eye is visible from miles away. The structure is only accessible by water: the journey to Restaurant Iris begins with a boat trip from the small town of Rosendal, located on the Hardangerfjord’s southern shore.
Norm Architects has used a mix of organic materials and forms to craft a high-end yet home-like restaurant interior. Bespoke furniture, carpets, and artwork harmonize with smooth arches and flowing curves, blending with the architecture to create a natural rhythm across the space. The room, originally a large, open area, has been divided into smaller zones filled with nooks and crannies, piquing the curiosity of guests and creating a layered environment. A custom-made screen wall, for example, enhances privacy and intimacy. “The atmosphere is a carefully crafted contradiction,” says Norm Architects. “While the imposing steel construction speaks of strength and modernity, elements of warmth and comfort, such as walnut wood, plush carpets, and upholstered furniture, create a homey, inviting setting that appeals to the human senses.” The result is a cozy and harmonious retreat that bears all of the artistic and creative hallmarks of the Copenhagen studio.
