Playing with the ideas of nature and the unexpected, Norwegian architecture studio Vardehaugen has created the Vindheim Cabin, a well-hidden modern forest dwelling that was conceived as a surprise, to be discovered by passers-by while hiking.
Situated in Lillehammer and appearing semi-buried in the ground, the structure's unusual shape is influenced by the classic motif of snowbound cabins, which have only their roofs protruding through the snow. During the cold Norwegian winter, when snow engulfs the structure, the division between architecture and nature becomes blurred. This also offers a playful functional aspect – the roof becomes a man-made slope for ski jumping, toboggan runs and other snow-based activities.
The cabin was conceived as a delicate balance between the 'luxurious' and the 'primitive'. All energy for this compact 55 sq m dwelling is supplied by solar power and a wood oven. The building, which is composed of a large living room, a bedroom, a ski preparation room and a small annex with a utility room, is clad in black-stained ore pine.
The interior is lighter, fully covered in waxed poplar veneer. The uninterrupted ceiling connects all of the rooms highlighting the interior's thoughtful, smooth spatial flow.
When resting in the cabin's bedroom, a large 4m-long window creates the impression of sleeping above the treetops and underneath the stars. The green forest surroundings are also enhanced through the addition of several other openings above eye level that offer alternative views deep into the woods and the alpine landscape beyond.
The compact, 55 sq m cabin features buth luxurious and simple, almost primitive, qualities in a delicate balance
The waxed poplar veneer clad interiors include a large living room, a bedroom, a ski preparation room and a small annex with a utility room
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Vardehaugen’s website
Photography: Rasmus Norlander
-
Fenix and Federica Sala Challenge Designers to double upCurator Federica Sala and innovative interiors material brand Fenix's Design Duo Double Feature project brings three design duos together to create dual-purpose furniture
-
Interni Venosta is a new furniture brand by the Dimorestudio foundersLaunched at Milan Design Week 2024, Interni Venosta is Dimorestudio Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci's new brand, crafted by Tuscan manufacturer Fabbri Services and paying homage to 1970s Italian design
-
Gucci’s ‘Design Ancora’ reimagines furniture classics in rich redGucci launches new editions of Italian design icons in an alluring deep red, showcased during Milan Design Week 2024
-
Aarestua Cabin brings old Norwegian traditions into the 21st centuryAarestua Cabin by Gartnerfuglen is a modern retreat with links to historical Norwegian traditions, and respect for its environment
-
Pioneering tablet maker reMarkable’s Oslo headquarters is a space for ‘better thinking’reMarkable’s Oslo head office, featuring areas to retreat, ruminate and collaborate, is a true workspace of the future
-
This Norway cabin was designed as a minimalist, coastal escapeThis Norway cabin by Erling Berg is made of local timber that frames its scenic Risør views through large openings and outdoor areas, creating a cool summer escape
-
This Oslo house is a suburban cabin in the woodsAn Oslo house designed like a retreat, Villa Nikkesmelle by Gartnerfuglen, offers the perfect balance between urban and rural
-
Restored former US embassy in Oslo brings Eero Saarinen’s vision into the 21st centuryThe former US embassy in Oslo by Finnish American modernist Eero Saarinen has been restored to its 20th-century glory and transformed for contemporary mixed use
-
Tommie Wilhelmsen’s cabin on Norway’s wild coast frames the experience of the landscapeTommie Wilhelmsen has completed a new cabin close to the city of Stavanger, a retreat in the heart of a historic coastal landscape
-
Aurora 2.0 is the perfect woodland retreat to take in the Northern LightsAurora 2.0 by architect Snorre Stinessen in Norway is an architectural retreat with a spectacular view of nature and the Northern Lights
-
This modest cabin is the perfect way to experience Norwegian natureA modest cabin by KIMA arkitektur in Norway makes the most of its dramatic, natural landscape through simplicity
