Case Study: Branded Environmental Design for Salmon Eye – The World’s Largest Floating Installation

KIND, in collaboration with Michelsens Interior, developed the branded environment for Salmon Eye, a landmark installation in Norway’s Hardangerfjord. This ambitious project, housed within a floating, fish-eye-shaped structure, required careful integration of materiality, durability, and aesthetic quality. This aligned with Salmon Eye’s mission to educate and inspire on the future of sustainable aquaculture.

Challenges and Solutions
In a complex, 100% nautical construction, over 90% of the work was completed at Marketex Marine in Tallinn, Estonia. We were working closely with all stakeholders, including local partners ABO Plan & Architecture and original designers from Kvorning Architecture, KIND curated materials, textures, and spatial experiences that reflect the brand’s values. Provided product documentation for proposed materials to ensure high-quality finishes and seamless construction, focusing on durability, flexibility, and aesthetic coherence with the brand we developed.

Materiality and Design
The interior reflects a gradation in colour and texture, inspired by underwater depths to the lighter, airier atmosphere at the surface. Collaborating with Danish firm Kvadrat, we incorporated SoftCell acoustic panels that gradually shift in colour, providing functional acoustic support and a visual journey from the deep, dark tones below to the light-filled spaces above—natural daylight streams through an elliptical window, enhancing the connection between the interior and the surrounding fjord.

Key Materials and Sustainability
KIND prioritised sustainability and natural textures in its choice of materials. Liquidfloors’ Socrete product provided the flooring, which was hand-finished on site and covers over 650 square meters. Troldtekt’s wood and cement panelling was selected to evoke seaweed and underwater landscapes, emphasising the building’s connection to its aquatic surroundings. These materials, chosen for their longevity and environmental impact, offer durability for the nautical environment and align with sustainability goals.

Results and Impact
The Salmon Eye floating installation has quickly become an iconic, renowned destination celebrated by architectural and culinary enthusiasts worldwide. Blending the feel of a submarine’s maritime depths with a futuristic, almost sci-fi vision, the interior environment of Salmon Eye is both immersive and forward-looking. This landmark has garnered international attention, with coverage in the Washington Post, Designboom, Archilovers, and beyond, marking it as a destination of innovation, architecture, and sustainable aquaculture.