entry smash 441

in the 1900s there were several paper mills along the banks of the river Drammenselva. they were a major part of the industrial development and growth of the city Drammen in southern Norway. Union Paper was one of the main mills employing 180 people, both men and women. it was the last of the mills to be closed down and when it did it marked the end of an era. an entire section of the city had been built up around the paper industries and when it ended the buildings began to decay.

eventually the city modernized the area to include some of the old buildings but replace most of them with what is now called Papirbredden, the paper banks. the area includes a university, large open public square, library and theater as well as private offices and residences. there also a large reflecting pool and a unique fountain that includes an all year sculpture called the LNG-sphere created by the famous Norwegian sculptor, Carl Nesjar. during the winter the water from the fountain freezes on the structure where the ice is formed by the wind.

the shadow photo is one of the restored buildings from Union Paper. the restoration added the spiral staircase and modern doors etc but generally kept the original look, helping to give a historic feel among the much more recent glass and steel structures.