“Every human being is a story that has not been written before.”
Per Fugelli
Visit a "Think tank" like no other
Ettertanken at Røst in Lofoten
On the windswept island of Røst, you can find peace for thought and reflection in the cool, refurbished water tower Ettertanken. Made in memory of one of Norway's wisest men, Per Fugelli.
10 miles from shore, a small island called Røst lies in the middle of the ocean. It's a remote and picturesque island in Norway's Lofoten archipelago in Northern Norway.
Although the tallest point on Røst is only 11 metres above sea level, one can now climb to the top of a renovated water tower and see the whole island from a 360 degrees view, 15 metres up.
A voice for Røst's future
Some say that Per Fugelli had one of Norway's wisest minds. He was a doctor, author, and keen social commentator who had a big influence on Norway.
His three years as a local doctor in the Værøy and Røst archipelagos had a major impact on his life's work.
Røst became his second home and he was passionate about preserving the island's history and its unique community and culture.
Known for his clear, direct speech, Fugelli was a fearless advocate for openness and honesty, challenging established norms and promoting social justice.
Although battling cancer during the last eight years of his life, he still spent time spreading inspiration and a positive mindset. He reminded everyone that justice, trust, and freedom are not permanent, but something we must work for and choose actively.
One of his last projects on the island was to save the former water tower from being demolished. He saw its potential and wanted to give it a new lease on life.
A tower for reflection
Cinematographer Martin Otterbeck and director Erik Poppe made a documentary about Per Fugelli called Per Fugelli - Siste Resept ('Per Fugelli - The Last Prescription').
The film explored Per's final years following a long battle with cancer and his search for meaning in the face of death.
During the filming, Per told Martin about an idea on how he wanted to repurpose the water tower into a reflection tank where you could climb up, calm down, and reflect.
"At Per's memorial service, I asked the mayor if i could purchase the tower, just to see if it was possible. And it was!" says Otterbeck.
Martin Otterbeck bought the tower for the bargain price of the symbolic price of 1 Norwegian Kroner (NOK) and started work on the renovation together with his good friend Pål Thomassen.
"Many people may think that old buildings should be removed because they don't look good and have no useful value. But I like to find objects with interesting shapes and give them new life by putting them in a different context. They suddenly take on a new function," says Otterbeck.
It's not possible to spend the night at Ettertanken but the day entrance is open to anyone and it costs NOK 75 to enter the top.
“The best prescription for a good life is to give less of a damn.”
This quote by Per Fugelli is written on top of the Ettertanken tower at Røst
Ettertanken ('The Reflection Tank', a play on the double meaning of tanken, meaning both "thought" and "tank" in Norwegian) is now one of Norway's most unique buildings.
"If Per could see what we turned the water tank into, I think he would have said 'nam, nam' (yummy), like he always used to say when he liked something," says Otterbeck.
Before Per died, he wrote an article expressing his gratitude for being so lucky as to grow up in Norway, where democracy works, and he wished all those of us that are to live on, 'good watch'.
"After reading that I wondered what my watch, or duty, should be in life, and found out that it would be to complete Per's vision of the reflection tank, but give it a broader function. I wanted it to be a watchtower for freedom of speech and a place for reflection and contemplation."
Martin Otterbeck says that he did not renovate the tower to make Per happy in heaven. It was to contribute something to the community.
"I care about preserving small towns along the Norwegian coast. They need attention to avoid losing residents. Ettertanken has received a new function and is also a sculpture and a landmark which I hope will attract people to beautiful Røst island," explains Martin.
The tower is also known as Pers huskestue ('Per's room in which to remember'), a space in which to reflect that also provides a vantage point for the future.
“Authors can come here to write an can vary the view by moving the desk on wheels from window to window.”
Martin Otterbeck
Repurposed buildings
Ettertanken is just one of many old and worn down sites that have been restored, revamped and given a new purpose in recent years.
Check out some of the coolest makeovers in Norway:
Raw escapes
Røst and Ettertanken are both a great place to escape to find inner calm and peace.
The coast offers many places you can visit in which to find calm, reflect, and let go of stress and worry.
Go on a unique and raw escape:
It's not surprising that Per Fugelli fell in love with beautiful Røst.
Check out more places in Lofoten in Northern Norway:
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