Energiverket, a district heat and power plant, is situated in the part of Longyearbyen called Sjøområdet. Sitting on the narrow plain between the sea and the mountain, it is a typical example of the modernist idea that form follows function. The building consists of three main sections. Next to the airport road is the lowest section which among other things contains the control room and electrical transformers. The middle section contains the turbines and the tallest and largest section contains the boilers and their silos. Right next to the tallest part stands the even taller, 90 m, flue stack.

The building's footprint is rectangular and the structural grid is indicated on the elevations in the in dark blue contrasting the grey corrugated steel cladding. Each of the three main roofs are connected by sloping roofs. Below the parapet the dark blue is repeated in a band which runs all the way around the building. The horizontal rows of windows accentuate the stepped stepped main volumes and the building's contour reflects the shape of mountains in the background.

Energiverket is the only Norwegian site operating as a combined coal fired district heating and electricity generating plant. Designed by the architect Øivind Mauseth it was built in 1982 and replaced the nearby old power station which has been given protected status. The plant towers over the otherwise low higgledy piggledy buildings of the neighbourhood and it is a landmark on the road to and from the airport.

1982

Architect Øivind Mauseth in collaboration with civil engineer Bjarne Instanes

Coal fired district heating and power plant

Concrete

steel

corrugated steel cladding