We are Håvard and Gregor — partners in life, caretakers by nature, and the founders of this sanctuary.

What we are building is not just a place for animals, or just a place for people. It is a living space where care, responsibility, slowness, and mutual respect are practiced every day — across species, ages, and backgrounds.

Håvard

Håvard is Norwegian and has spent much of his adult life living abroad. Having worked for many years as a professional translator, his background is rooted in language, nuance, and listening — understanding what is being said, but also what is meant.

Alongside his professional work, Håvard has always been deeply drawn to systems of care: how homes function, how routines support well-being, and how environments shape emotional health. He has a strong practical side — cooking, organizing, documenting, planning — and a creative one, expressed through writing, music, and storytelling.

Håvard is particularly interested in building structures that allow people (and animals) to feel safe without being controlled, supported without being rushed. In the sanctuary, he focuses on daily operations, communication, documentation, and creating rhythms that make shared living sustainable rather than exhausting.

Gregor

Gregor is German, and his background is shaped by a lifelong interest in psychology, animals, and human behavior. He has worked closely with people in different life situations and has a strong intuitive understanding of emotional needs — both spoken and unspoken.

Animals have always been central to Gregor’s life, not as possessions, but as individuals with their own personalities, boundaries, and histories. He brings a calm, observant presence to the sanctuary, paying close attention to stress signals, group dynamics, and long-term well-being.

Gregor is especially drawn to intergenerational living and to the idea that people do better when they feel needed — not productive in a capitalist sense, but meaningfully involved. In the sanctuary, he focuses on buerocracy, planning, paper work, animal care, emotional support structures, and the human relationships that grow around shared responsibility.

Us as a Couple and a Family

We are married, queer, and have chosen to build our life intentionally — with animals, with land, and with others. Our family includes dogs, cats, and other animals who are not “rescued projects”, but companions with agency and dignity.

Having lived in different countries and cultures, we know what it feels like to be out of place, to start over, and to search for belonging. This experience shapes everything we do here. We believe that home is not defined by perfection, but by consistency, honesty, and care over time.

We are not interested in savior narratives or idealized community living. We believe in clear agreements, shared responsibility, and space for individuality — including the right to retreat, to rest, and to be quiet.