Pink, grey, green, and white marble from Northern Norway will in the future play a much bigger role in indoor and outdoor building projects not only in the Nordic countries, but on a global scale.
That is the ambition for Susan Moser who has recently taken over the Fauske Marble quarry in Norway. The theme of the company’s booth at Marmomac 2023 is about finding ways to develop a sustainable and durable wall construction that utilizes the unique qualities of Fauske marble.
A matter of stone by Elle Decor Italia
Hall 1 Stand 2
The Norwegian marble quarry in Fauske dates back to the Danish King Frederik V. The quarry gave name to Marmormolen (the Marble Pier) in central Copenhagen. The world-renowned Danish marble expert, Susan Moser, known and recognized as a natural stone consultant on numerous Danish and international prestigious building projects, has recently taken over the quarry in Fauske, and wants to increase the awareness of the unique and durable Norwegian marble. The company has been launched as Fauske Marble with one of its key products being the unique pink Norwegian Rose. Since the 1880s marble has been quarried in Fauske, and the durable marble was the cornerstone of a huge export business in the Freeport of Copenhagen up until the 1960s. Since then, the demand for the Norwegian marble declined, but this trend will now be reversed by Ms. Moser and her new company.
“My ambition is that architects and developers again recognize the many qualities that marble may add to their building projects. If you choose the right marble for the right project, the durability is almost endless and marble hardly ages. The durability offered by the marble from Fauske is second to none and the marble is suitable both for indoor and outdoor projects. Apart from its natural beauty Fauske marble is a very durable and low maintenance building material and as such a strong alternative to man-made building materials. At the same time, the environmental impact during the production is limited, and to that you may add the almost endless life cycle of marble” says Susan Moser, CEO of Fauske Marble.
Compared to other marble quarries like the ones in Carrara, what is unique about the quarry in Fauske are the many available colors: green, white, pink, and grey. Marble from Carrara (Generally in one quarry, available in nuances of grey-white to steel-grey) has a different geological composition and should not be used for outdoor purposes. Marble from Fauske has been used both indoor and outdoor in many famous and iconic buildings such as the UN Headquarters in New York, the Oslo Airport, the Norwegian Royal Palace, the first head office of the Danish service giant ISS, and the head of office of Danske Bank. You will also find marble from Fauske in furniture designed by Poul Kjærholm.
The different types of marble in Fauske are also clearly demarcated and are therefore easy to access, which is of great importance for the production flow and yield in relation to a low waste percentage.
“We have the capacity and know-how to turn marble from Fauske into an export adventure again. It is a unique marble with an authentic expression and an infinite durability, which has been forgotten. The time is just right to restore and revitalize the interest in Norwegian marble, and that is why I am incredibly happy to have taken over the marble quarry in Fauske”, says Susan Moser, who was born and raised with marble.
The story behind the Marmormolen (the Marble Pier)
The name behind the new district, Marmormolen, which is in the process of opening up on the Nordhavnen in Copenhagen, originates from Den Ankerske Marmorforretning, which was established on the newly constructed Frihavn (Free Port) in 1895. The marble business exported marble blocks and finished products from Fauske, and Susan Moser’s grandfather took it over in 1965. She therefore stepped into her children’s shoes in the marble business, and then became a master’s apprentice there. Susan Moser is today one of the only female marble experts worldwide and has worked with natural stone for over 35 years in many places around the world. She has also been a consultant on several prestigious buildings including the Opera House in Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Amager (KUA), the Danish National Bank and Jarmers Plads as well as numerous buildings around the world, to mention some: The Perelman Performance Arts Center New York & King Abdullahs Financial District, Riyadh KSA. It was the Danish King Frederik V who in 1765 became aware of the marble deposit in Fauske and paved the way for the marble quarry. Den Ankerske Marmorforretning opened in 1895 in Copenhagen. The factory was demolished in 2008, and today the UN City is located at the address.
