Pater Noster is Sweden's most famous and spectacular lighthouse, located on the tiny island Hamneskär outside Marstrand on the Swedish west coast. The extremely hazardous waters surrounding the island have been feared for centuries, and seafarers used to read The Lord’s Prayer - Pater Noster in Latin - when their ships approached the dangerous archipelago.
When the lighthouse was constructed in 1868, it was named after the prayer. Although the island was considered inhabitable, a house was built for the lighthouse master, his family and staff. For almost 110 years, generations of lighthouse keepers lived with their families in this extreme environment, caring for the lighthouse, rescuing shipwrecked sailors and creating a small and isolated society of its own.
After being automatized in the 1960’s and finally deactivated in 1977, the lighthouse and the island was deserted. During the years to follow, attempts were made to breathe new life into the premises. In the spring of 2020, a new era arrived when a group of Swedish entrepreneurs signed a lease contract with the National Property Board of Sweden. The vision was nothing less than to turn the abandoned island into one of Sweden’s top destinations.
A home on the horizon
Award-winning Swedish design agency Stylt was contracted to create concept, branding and interior design. Then, a careful restauration of the old lighthouse keeper’s home begun, aiming to turn it into a different kind of experience-driven boutique hotel.
"Some might say it’s a hotel, but we’d rather call it a home on the horizon," says Stylt’s founder and creative director Erik Nissen Johansen, who is also a partner in the project together with Elisabeth Johansen, CEO at Stylt. “During my 30 years within the hospitality business, I have rarely come across such a unique destination.”
Depending on the weather conditions, guests arrive by boat or helicopter from Marstrand or Gothenburg - and it might be quite a bumpy ride. But when the engines have been turned off, it’s only you and the sound of waves, wind and seagulls. Then a friendly voice invites you to enter the lighthouse master’s home.
Architecture and design
While the main building’s 19th-century exterior was relatively well-preserved, there wasn’t much left of the original interiors. Instead of recreating the former interior design in detail, Stylt dug into the fascinating story of the island and the sea, of the lighthouse and the people who once tended it. Based on this narrative, local vintage furniture and antiques were sourced along with art, photographs, books and props. The wallpapers were custom designed by Stylt. “By combining old technical drawings of the lighthouse and kelp patterns, we wanted to create a relevant yet stylish link to local history and nature” says Stylt partner and art director Andreas Hagersjö. Another highlight is a huge photographic artwork by Hawaiian visual artist Christy Lee Rogers, an artistic tribute to the hundreds of ships and crews lost in the depths around Pater Noster. The overall ambience is rustic and homey, cozy and cool.
Today’s catch and unique back-to-nature experiences
The living room’s bar offers champagne and local craft beer as well as rum and schnapps, flavoured with sea buckthorn, sloe berries and seaweed. The restaurant’s menu focuses on locally caught fish and fresh seafood. Lobster is fished seasonally, and crab is served all year round. Guests are more than welcome to cook their own catch - or let one of many prominent chefs who often visit the island do the job. In the summertime, the courtyard outside the main building hosts an outdoor café. The nine bedrooms accommodate up to 18 guests, and if you want to sleep under the stars, a luxury king-size bed can be arranged on the cliffs next to the sea.
Although the island is isolated, it offers a wide range of activities and unique experiences. Visiting the old lighthouse is a must. Being totally restored 15 years ago, it offers an amazing 360° view of the archipelago. On a clear day, it’s even possible to get a glimpse of Denmark. Apart from the fantastic scenery, everything from sunset wine tastings to meditation and yoga classes under the stars are arranged up here, 36 meters above sea level.
The salty sea offers great back-to-nature pursuits such as swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving as well as sailing, kayaking and deep-sea fishing. Try a seaweed-cooking class, enjoy the island’s hot tubs filled with warm seawater - or simply chill out, read a book, have a glass of wine and watch the sun set.
A sign of the times
Since opening in the summer of 2020, the weather-beaten 152-year-old lighthouse master’s residence has attracted a great deal of global interest. Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler and Forbes are just a few that put Pater Noster high on their lists of "must-experience destinations" around the world. In December 2020, Stylt and Pater Noster won the judges special award ”Judges So Cool” at the 40th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design.
"It’s a sign of the times that a place that is so inaccessible, weather-exposed and barren beats traditional luxury," says Erik Nissen Johansen. "We at Stylt strongly believe that Pater Noster delivers exactly what today's guests are looking for - authenticity, personality and privacy spiced with fantastic nature experiences and a thrilling history. Low-key luxury with a dash of roughness.”
