The extremely hazardous waters surrounding the island outside Marstrand on the Swedish west coast 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 and 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. In the spring of 2020, 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. 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.
