Our Story - The History of Lindstrøm Hotel
Lindstrøm Hotel is one of the oldest and most distinctive hotels in Western Norway, with a colorful and dramatic history.
Established in 1845 - With an Obligation to House Travellers
It all started with a small general store, ‘landhandel’, with the obligation to house travelers.
Jørgen Christian Lindstrøm and Birgitte Marthea Lindstrøm from Bergen took over the store after Johan Joakim Møller at Lærdalsøyri. With the purchase of "Lindstrømbui" came the obligation to house travelers and offer accommodation.
The Earliest Years
The photo was taken approx. 1870 and shows Lindstrøm Hotel in the early years. The building on the left is "Kofoeden", which was later rebuilt in Swiss style. The building on the right is the main building.
Photo: K. Knudsen. Owner: Biledsamlingen, UBB.
A Hotel in Growth
To increase capacity, the Lindstrøm couple bought the house of pharmacist Andreas Agerskog in 1853. 20 years later, when their son Ole Johan had taken over, Lindstrøm Hotel was expanded with another building. Now it was the house of prosecutor Hans Ramshard Kofoed, just across the street, that was included in the hotel grounds.
In 1885-1886 the hotel was further expanded, this time with additions to both the "Apothecary House" and "Kofoeden" - with verandas in Swiss style.
In 1898, "Nybu" was built in the hotel garden, also in Swiss style. This was considered an international and modern style at the time.
Fashionable Guests from England
From the end of the 19th century, affluent tourists flocked to Lærdal to fish for salmon in the Lærdal River and many stayed at Lindstrøm Hotel.
Several royals from Europe came to experience Lindstrøm Hotel and salmon fishing. Prince Axel of Denmark was the one who visited most often, so one of the buildings is named after him: "Prince Axel's cabin".
A new concrete construction
In 1968, the reception building received an extension, designed by the architects Claus and Jon Lindstrøm. They were close relatives of the hotel owner.
hotel fires was common at that time, so it was built with fire safety in mind. The new wing got a flat roof and larger concrete structures, in addition to a fire sprinkler system.
The Fire of 25th June 1968
Shortly after the new extension was ready, what the hotel owners feared, happened: the hotel caught fire and suffered extensive damage.
Photo: Unknown photographer/Lærdal local history archive.
Burnt to the Ground
The old main building, the "Apothecary House", was destroyed in the fire. In addition, the older part of the reception burned to the ground. This was the "heart" of the hotel and had to be rebuilt quickly.
Before the year was over, they had, amazingly enough, set up a new reception on the fire ground. This was expanded a few years later with several floors.
Today, there are still old paintings and furniture at the hotel that were salvaged from the fire.
Photo: Unknown photographer/Lærdal local history archive.
Modern Facade
The hotel building, which was erected in 1968 and extended in 1972, has little in common with the old Swiss-style hotel. The building was designed by Jon and Claus Lindstrøm, architects who received recognition for combining the new and the old.
Today, this is the reception building. The first floor houses the common area, with hotel rooms on the two upper floors.
“Nybu” Still a Part of the Hotel
Today, Lindstrøm Hotel has five different buildings. The newest is from 1985 and the oldest is "Nybu" in Swiss style from 1898.
The hotel houses 12 rooms, all of which are different and unique. Scandinavian design meets the 19th century, with colors and furniture that play nicely together. Some of the furniture is original, while others have been added along the way.
From Norwegian Romantic Nationalism to Modern Scandinavian Design
In terms of exterior and interior, the hotel ranges from national romanticism to modern, Scandinavian design with elements from designers such as Alvar Aalto, Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Hans Brattrud and Torbjørn Afdal.
Three generations of Lindstrøm architects have left their mark on the hotel. This has given the hotel a unique style that varies from room to room.
Sources:
The historical script that was made at the 150th anniversary in 1995, by Anna Jorunn Avdem and Jan Olav Fretland
“The business and hotel family Lindstrøm”, Country Encyclopedia for Sogn og Fjordane, by Ottar Starheim
“Husa våre, Arkitekturarven i Sogn og Fjordane” by Kolbjørn Nesje Nybø
Knut and Britt Lindstrøm