Svalbard
Year: 2015
Client: Optime

Located between Northern Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is an Arctic gem with magnificent landscapes, untouched wilderness, and ice-free fjords. Given the harsh climate and challenging environment on Svalbard, a lighting provider with fixtures suited to these conditions was required. The choice fell on Westal.

For the pedestrian walkway on Svalbard, robust luminaires and poles capable of withstanding the extreme environment were requested. Our Swedish-made Ark pole luminaires and Etapp poles, designed by Torbjörn Eliasson and Andreas Sture, were chosen. These fixtures are specifically engineered to endure tough climates.

On Svalbard, it is not possible to use standard concrete foundations for tall poles due to the harsh environment (e.g., strong winds). To address this, Westal custom-designed a completely new base for installation, allowing the poles to be mounted on steel beams buried along the entire length of the walkway. Since the installation, there have been no complaints—despite the demanding climate.