The Nordic countries are known for their ability to build wondrous wildness cabins (and make anything beautiful out of birch). From perennially snowbound to handsomely patina’d over time, we’ve compiled a collection of six Nordic Cabins that are never short of a spectacular view.
Juvet Landscape Hotel by Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor
Located on a nature reserve near the town of Andalsnes in Western Norway, the Juvet Landscape Hotel is designed to nestle itself as unobtrusively as possible into the surrounding natural landscape. Each of the nine rooms is built as an independent structure that is tailored to the positioning of the tree and the overall topography of the site. Angled in different directions, the rooms exploit a single view of the forest, creating an uninhibited sense of being in nature without the need to draw down blinds or curtains.
Split View Mountain Lodge by Reiulf Ramstad Architects
On the mountainside of a popular skiing destination near the village Gielo, the holiday home to a family of four is clad in a continuous skin of timber on the interior walls and the roof. The extruded form of the structure frames spectacular views from inside the cabin from each room: four bedrooms, separate living and dining areas, youth lounge, mezzanine for younger children, and the small annex that accommodates guests and visiting grandparents. The body of the structure follows the contours of the landscape and splits into the two separate living and dining areas. Inside, the family can enjoy the different spaces without worrying about privacy.
Gjennomsikten (To See Through) by Kollaboratoriet
From the small interior space on the inside of this entirely timber project there is a view of the once-polluted Porsgrunn river. “Gjennomsikten” means “to see through,” which is an appropriate name for the varying degrees of transparency that visitors experience from different positions and the varying dimensions of the materials. First and foremost, the goal of the project is to act as stage for the walkabout project “Breddelangs” (along the riverside), a preproduction project that aims to bring public awareness to the formally toxic and polluted industrial lot, Lahelle. The now-safe locale is popular for walks and functions as a public meeting spot alongside the river.
Garden Shed by Avanto Architects Ltd, Linda Bergroth
This prefab garden shed is a two-in-one greenhouse with storage space. Designed to fit in with the Scandinavian landscape, it has a gabled roof, which is typical in the area due to the weather conditions. The green head shown in the pictures is designer Linda Bergroth’s extra bedroom just outside her summer cottage. To make the shed more commutable like a bedroom, she customized the cottage by adding solar panels to provide lighting and wooden flooring.
© Lars Petter Pettersen
Cabin at Norderhov by AtelierOslo
Situated on a steep slope in the Krokskogen forest, this cabin offers a fantastic view of the Steinsfjorden lake. Because the site is exposed to a lot of wind and/or sun, the cabin was designed to create several shelters within the outdoor spaces around the structure. With rectangular geometry, the walls and roofs restore slabs laid in a traditional Western Norwegian pattern. Inside, CNC-milled curved birch plywood forms a continuous surface that follows the terrain and divides the plan into four main levels. Consisting of mainly prefab components, the cabin was assembled as a large and complex puzzle.
Vega Cottage by Kolman Boye Architects
On the island of Vega, not far from the polar circle, the Vega Cottage is situated near a group of traditional seaside huts, known as Nausts, with windowless weathered wooden façades. The goal of the project was to create a contemporary Naust that would develop existing themes from the existing vernacular and have distinctive character while having an unpretentious presence.