As the hit HBO series Succession reaches the midpoint of its final season, viewers of episode five’s Norwegian negotiations were treated to an architectural backdrop worthy of the show’s millions-strong audience. The Nordic eco-resort featured in the episode is in fact a seasoned pro in the film world, having previously been used as a prominent location in Alex Garland’s 2014 sci-fi thriller Ex Machina.
The building in question is the Juvet Landscape Hotel, which sits between the UNESCO world heritage Geiranger Fjord and the dramatic road and viewing point Trollstigen on the Nordic coast. Designed by Jensen & Skovdin Architects and completed in 2010, the 24-bed hotel is spread across seven minimalistic landscape rooms, two smaller ‘bird houses,’ and a four-bed ‘Skrivarstua’ or ‘Writer’s Lodge.’ Along a river bank, the hotel also features a bathhouse with a steam room and hot tub behind a large glass wall.
In order to eliminate any interior reflections or distractions from the outdoor view, the interiors of each room have been treated with transparent oil flecked with black pigments, while each room features at least two glass walls. Additionally, all built-in interior features, such as shelving, have been made out of the same timber elements as the walls and ceiling, creating a clear distinction between indoors and outdoors while keeping the visual focus on the landscape.
“When we saw images of the remarkable architecture and setting of Juvet we got really excited,” Succession producer Scott Ferguson told Variety when reflecting on the location. “Norway is a glorious, natural setting. It immediately seemed like a perfect place for a family gathering in the series. We studied different countries, but we realized Norway just has this exceptional landscape — like nowhere else in the world.”
The hotel’s showcasing in Succession comes weeks after a futuristic spa hosted filmmaker Joshua A. Dawson’s latest cautionary tale on climate change. For further inspiration on the connection between architecture and film, you can check out the winners of the 2022 AIA Film Challenge announced last November, or our Halloween deep-dive into the architecture behind Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice.
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