Company Town – Grønnbyen, Villamoen & Admini

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Social Class in Residential Areas

Workers, officials, and entrepreneurs – this was the hierarchy of housing in early 20th-century Notodden. Homes were arranged almost like terraces: workers lived at the bottom, officials and the middle class in the middle, and entrepreneurs, CEOs, and the upper class at the top with the best views. This geographic layering offers a unique insight into the class structure during Hydro’s early residential developments.

Grønnbyen – High-Quality Workers’ Housing

Grønnbyen features 25 vertically divided semi-detached houses for worker families, along with three single-family homes for the caretakers at the Notodden nitrate factories. While the living conditions were modest compared to the middle class, these homes were considered high quality for the time. In fact, Grønnbyen was among the first residential areas in Norway to have indoor toilets – reflecting Hydro’s commitment to modern worker housing.

Villamoen – Architecturally Distinguished Official Homes

In Villamoen, 17 single-family homes were built for officials and engineers, designed by prominent Norwegian architects such as Helge E. Blix, Henning Kloumann, and Carl Borch. The houses showcase multiple early 20th-century architectural styles, including Jugendstil, Classicism, and Neo-Baroque, representing a period of high architectural standards in Norwegian industrial towns.

Admini – Hydro’s Representative Building in Notodden

Admini was one of the first buildings Hydro constructed in Notodden. Located at the southern tip of Villamoen with views of the factories and Heddalsvannet, the house served as both residence and office for Sam Eyde. Admini impresses with its majestic Jugendstil and Neoclassical architecture, featuring interior carvings by Jon Borgarson, who won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris World Exhibition. The surrounding area includes a beautiful park and tennis courts, and all Hydro general meetings were held here until 1960. Today, Admini is still used by Hydro for representation and meetings.

Hydro Notodden – A Living Industrial Heritage

Hydro’s early residential developments in Notodden, from Grønnbyen to Villamoen and Admini, demonstrate how industry, architecture, and social hierarchy were carefully planned. These areas remain important cultural heritage sites and offer insight into Norway’s industrial history and early 20th-century housing architecture.