The Nordic countries are known for their great advances when it comes to healthcare architecture and design; and this latest design by Norwegian masters Snøhetta is a case in point. The globally acclaimed Oslo- and New York-based architecture and design firm has just completed a series of cabins for the Friluftssykehuset Foundation.
Located outside some of Norway's largest hospitals, Oslo University Hospital and Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand in the South of Norway, the Outdoor Care Retreats, as the project is officially known, ensures patients can make the most of the therapeutic powers of nature and the Scandinavian country's unique, lush green setting. Situated in secluded parts of forest, near creeks and rolling hills, the structures are designed to receive patients and their friends and families for treatment, support and contemplation.
Commissioned by the Friluftssykehuset Foundation, the project can be found in the forest of Sognsvann creek and in South of Norway.
Made out of wood in a simple and uncluttered style, so as to blend organically with the surrounding nature and not overpower it, the cabins feature minimalist yet comfortable interiors and large openings that draw the gaze towards the leafy surrounds.
The retreats ‘stand in stark contrast to the monumental hospital buildings that they are affiliated with', explain the architects. ‘Referencing the playful construction of wooden tree cabins typically made by children, the luminous cabins are formed like skewed blocks of wood that extend into the landscape through asymmetrical branches.' The cabins are thoughtfully designed, also allowing access for wheelchair users.
These Outdoor Care Retreats are donated as a gift by the Friluftssykehuset Foundation to the country's hospitals, offering a uniquely conceived physical and psychological respite from the demanding processes of healthcare treatment.
Known as Outdoor Care Retreats, the buildings are aiming to make hospitalisation and treatment easier for patients and their families.
The cabins are in a secluded natural location.
Made out of wood, the structures allow patients to benefit from the calming power of nature.
Simple interior and large openings draw the focus towards the green landscape.
The overall aim is to achieve better disease management.
Relatives and friends will also be able to stay in the cabins with the patients.
INFORMATION
For more information visit the Snøhetta website
-
The bespoke Jaguar E-Type GTO melds elements from every era of the classic sports carECD Automotive Design’s one-off commission caters to a client who wanted to combine the greatest hits of Jaguar’s E-Type along with modern conveniences and more power
-
Casa Sanlorenzo debuts in Venice as a new hub for contemporary artThe luxury yachting leader unveils a stunning new space in a palazzo restored by Piero Lissoni – where art, innovation, and sustainability come together
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on lifeThanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being rebonr as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
A holiday house on a Norwegian fjord drinks in spectacular viewsAn elegant and modest holiday home on a fjord on Norway’s western coast works with a steep site and far-reaching vistas
-
This contemporary cabin cantilevers over a Scottish lochRock Cove, Cameron Webster Architects’ contemporary cabin in Argyll, Scotland, makes the most of its wild setting
-
The dream of the flat-pack home continues with this elegant modular cabin design from KotoThe Niwa modular cabin series by UK-based Koto architects offers a range of elegant retreats, designed for easy installation and a variety of uses
-
PoMo Museum opens its colourful spaces in Trondheim’s art nouveau post officePoMo Museum is a new Trondheim art destination, featuring colourful interiors by India Mahdavi in an art nouveau post office heritage building
-
Tour this Estonian tiny home with big ambitionsÖÖD Golden House, a new Estonian cabin concept, promises to offer a compact design for small and perfectly formed escapes
-
Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum's newest addition effortlessly complements the institution’s existing complexThe third addition to Joslyn Art Museum is designed by Snøhetta, which opted for voluminous common spaces and illuminating atriums
-
Tour this waterfront Norwegian summer house in pristine natureCabin Lillesand by architect, Lund Hagem respects and enhances its natural setting in the country's south
-
The heat is on: mobile sauna heralds a new breed of experimental hot boxesEmma O’Kelly explores the emerging world of mobile sauna design in Germany, Norway and the UK, where new design approaches are taking this ancient practice into the modern era
