Norway's Luxury Prison: Halden

A luxury prison containing en-suite bathrooms, £1 million Banksy-style art and windows without bars, has been built in Norway. Honestly, with prisons like these, I'm no future reader but i can tell ya, I sense an increase in crime rates.The £15 million Halden Prison took 10 years to build and has been touted as the most humane in the world for its 252 inmates.

Prison authorities claim the luxury environment of the 75-acre site helps reduce the country's already very low crime rate, as if!!. Each inmate gets a private cell with mini-fridge, flat-screen TV and even a private en-suite bathroom and barless windows - because they let in more sunlight.Then for every 12 to 15 rooms there is a top-spec kitchen with stainless steel work tops and lounge areas complete with IKEA-style sofas and coffee tables. Wow!!!! The prisoners at Halden are also able to use a gym, complete with rock-climbing wall, a music studio, and a luxury library. Even retirement homes aren't this luxurious, People will be jumping up an down to be sentenced to prison,donchu think? The homeless will commit whatever crime possible to get in....I can almost see where this is headed, Going to prison will sorta be the 'In-thing' for some, it'll be better than home for some people.

Architect Hans Henrik Hoilund said Halden was designed to ensure prisoners did not re-offend."The most important thing is that the prison looks as much like the outside world as possible," he said. I don't get it, I thought prison was supposed to look worse than outside world on purpose?!(shoulder shrug)

"To avoid an institutional feel, exteriors are not concrete but made of bricks, galvanized steel and larch; the buildings seem to have grown organically from the woodlands."And while there is one obvious symbol of incarceration - a 20-foot concrete security wall along the prison's perimeter - trees obscure it.
"And it's top has been rounded off, so it isn't too hostile."
As if all that was not enough Norwegian artist Dolk was hired to paint a £1 million mural on the prison wall showing a prisoner in striped uniform using a ball and chain as a shot put. This my friend is not a prison, more like a Hotel for criminals!

paintings by Dolk at Halden