When I first stumbled upon the
Treehotel in Sweden I was rendered speechless, beyond words, it is simply… wow. I love it when people conceive of things, particularly in architecture, that I would never have dreamed – like many of Frank Gehry’s creations. The Treehotel is one of those things… or groups of things.
Located in Harads, North Sweden, it is a hotel comprised of separate tree houses/guest suites which have all been designed by different architects. The idea for the hotel stemmed from an independent film called Treelovers, filmed in Harads village. After the filming, a tree house which had been built for the film was left empty, and Kent Lindvall, the man behind Treehotel, asked to rent it… and the idea was formed.
A few years later, he went, with his idea, and a group of architect friends, on a fishing trip to Russia. As they sat around their campfire drinking vodka he told them his idea and they loved it. So they went to the forest and, charged with the mission to create something new that you could not find anywhere else in the world, they began designing. The architects were not allowed to speak to each other, but had to design something completely unique that reflected the forest, and nature.
In the case of the
Mirrorcube, pictured above, this idea is quite literally rendered in the design. How amazing is that? Again… wow.
The
Bird’s Nest also integrates beautifully with its surroundings. Hailed as an amazing place for tranquility and deep thought, the only entrance is a retractable ladder in the floor, which can be pulled up to make you completely untouchable.
The
Cabin, perched aloft in the trees, is surrounded on all sides by a panorama of treetops. In the center of the room there is a big bed, from which you can gaze out at the forest, above and below. It is the largest of the tree houses and has a big open terrace on the roof.
The
Blue Cone, which is actually bright red, boasts the best views, and is sitting overlooking a river. Also on the property, and in development, are the
Room With a View and the
UFO – you must have a look… and don’t forget the
Tree Sauna!
For a remarkable concept and extraordinary, inspirational design, thank you Treehotel. I hope that you all get a chance to visit and take a moment in the serenity, the tranquility, where nature and design cohabitate. To learn more about Treehotel visit their website
here, to translate the site go
here, or view them via
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