Many buildings today claim to be environmentally-this and eco-that, but almost all of them fail to evoke the kind of fresh and inspirational moment we actually get from looking at a foggy forest at dawn or by looking up at some imposing cliffs.
‘Green’ Architecture as it is known today can take many forms. From simple utilitarian buildings that do amazing things for the environment to hi-tech buildings all extruded with the proverbial label of sustainability. The problem is that even if you disguise your building with a green roof, it will never live up to the wonderful captivating looks of nature no matter how much CO2 your building pumps into the air.
Can Architecture actually live up to the sexy looks of nature?
There is a new hotel in Sweden that may live up to the challenge. Not only that, it seems to completely erase the line between built and natural environments. The Treehotel, located in the boreal forests near the village of Harads in northern Sweden, offers six stunning guest rooms in sensitive pods built as luxurious tree pods.
The idea that inspired the owners came from a sleeper 2008 Swedish documentary called “Tradalskaren” (The Tree Lover) that tells the story of three men who build a tree house near Harads in an attempt to rediscover their rural roots after years of living in a city. The Lindvalls, who already owned and ran a nearby guesthouse, saw the chance to create a different kind of holiday experience.
Owners, Britta and Kent Lindvall invited designers and architects to create a series of unique tree houses that reflect the growing popularity of ecologically-themed holidays. There’s the Mirrorcube, a 4x4x4 meter aluminum box clad in mirrored glass, which its designers Tham & Videgard describe as a “camouflaged refuge.”
Also, accessed via a footbridge, there is a Cabin that is suspended from the surrounding pines on a steep bank, affording views of a nearby River.
Treehotel opened in the summer of 2010 and there are plans to expand next year, the owner says,
“The plan for next year is five new rooms. We also plan to build a chapel so people can get married up there.”
Open all year round, the Treehotel might attract only the hardiest of souls during the winter as temperatures typically dip to around minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit). But intrepid travelers will be rewarded with stunning snowy landscapes as well as a “Tree Sauna” and under-floor heating in every room delivered by renewable energy. There is no doubt that this eco-retreat presents a remarkably elegant approach to green design and a worthy competitor for sexy ‘Mother Nature.’
Images © Treehotel
