Inside the floating Salmon Eye experience center on Norway’s fascinating Hardangerfjord, the Iris restaurant offers diners authentic – and sustainable – gastronomic excellence.
Designed by Norm Architects, the interiors of this Michelin-starred restaurant blend perfectly with Kvorning Design’s innovative ellipsoidal architecture.
Salmon Eye: an unusual and evocative setting
Located off the coast of the town of Rosendal, the Iris restaurant can only be reached by boat. Commissioned by Norwegian aquaculture company Eide Fjordbruk, its setting, the Salmon Eye art installation, was conceived as a cultural center to promote sustainable fishing. With a shape reminiscent of a salmon’s eye, the structure is covered with stainless steel scales and has some 1000 m2 of floorspace.

Blending seamlessly into the natural beauty of its location, Iris isn’t just a restaurant. It engages diners in an immersive experience that blends the atmosphere of the fjord with high-end cookery. Chef Anika Madsen’s menu features ethically sourced ingredients, reflecting the values that inspired Salmon Eye.
Iris: warm, inviting interiors

The dining room combines custom-made furniture, soft lighting, and natural materials, such as walnut, to create a warm, inviting atmosphere set against the elegant steel curves of the structure. This pairing of Salmon Eye’s striking steel construction – which emphasizes strength and modernity – with the dining room’s warmth and comfort creates an unusual and inviting setting.

This oceanfront retreat features custom-designed furnishings, including portable lamps, rugs, and purpose-built wait stations that complement the architecture. To enhance the sense of intimacy, the original open spaces have been divided into smaller, more private areas, allowing guests to gradually discover the beauty of the place.
>>> Discover a vacation home designed by m2atelier in Kragerø: a “buen retiro” among the fjords
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
Iris Restaurant - Norm Architects
©Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, courtesy of Norm Architects
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Credits
Location: Rosendal, Norway
Completion: 2024
Owner: Eide Fjordbruk
Restaurant Interior Design: Norm Architects, Signe Hytte
Salmon Eye Architect: Kvorning Design
Main Contractor: Fluctus
Consultants
Structural: Marketex Marine
Visual Design: KIND Conceptual branding, Michelsens
BIM: HEUT Design, Upstairs
Basic Design: Maritime Engineering
Detailed Design: Trium
Photography by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen & Restaurant Iris, courtesy of Norm Architects