Treehouse in Sweden

In the tall pine forest of Harads, Northern Sweden, Snøhetta designed a new addition to the existing Treehotel. Hovering ten meters above the ground within the tree canopy, the 7th room provides its guests with a stunning view of the Lapland treetops and the Lule River. 

  Focusing on the surrounding nature, the design features large windows, a netted terrace suspended above the forest floor, and a tree stretching up through the cabin. The boundaries between indoors and outdoors are blurred, making the cabin part of the forest. The bottom of the cabin features a 12 x 8 meter surface, covered with a large black and white print of trees reaching up into the sky. A staircase brings guests from the ground and up into the cabin, along with a small lift for transporting luggage. Twelve columns carry the cabin, reducing the load borne by the trees and its impact on the surrounding forest. This gives a feeling of height and weightlessness, as well as stability.

Built as a traditional Nordic cabin, the wooden facade is clad with pine boards: the surface is burnt to create a dark effect and keep maintenance low. The indoor flooring is made from ash wood, while birch plywood is used for the interior walls. With complementing light, wooden furniture, the interior of 55 square meters makes up a blonde Nordic contrast to the dark exterior. With two bedrooms, a social lounge area, bathroom, and the airy terrace, the cabin accommodates up to five guests. The varying floor heights, with a 30 cm difference, creates an efficient and playful interior design. The lounge area is located on the lower floor, while the bedrooms are on the upper level with the beds embedded in the floor.

A north-facing floor-to-ceiling window gives the best chance to see the Aurora Borealis on a clear day, giving this social space the name the Northern Light lounge. A large glass door leads from the lounge area out on the netted terrace, where it’s possible to sleep in sleeping bags. Guests sleeping inside can also look up at the night sky, with expansive, openable skylights in both bedrooms. 

The 7th room, Treehotel, Harads, Sweden
Program: hotel cabin
Architects: Snøhetta
Area: 55 sqm
Completion: 2016