Stockholm-based architects Tham + Videgard Hansson Arkitekter have designed a hotel hidden in the trees, to be located in Harads, Sweden.
Aluminium structures will be hung around tree trunks and clad in mirrored glass. The units will be accessible by rope ladder or rope bridge, each providing accommodation for two people including a living room, double bed, small kitchen, bathroom and roof terrace.
The hotel is due to be built next year.
Here’s some text from Tham + Videgard Hansson Arkitekter:
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A tree hotel in the far north of Sweden-Harads.
The concept is to create a shelter up in the trees, a lightweight aluminium structure hung around a tree trunk, boxes clad in mirrored glass, 4×4x4 meters. The exterior reflects the surroundings and the sky, creating a camouflaged refuge. The interior is all made of plywood and the windows give a 360 degree view.
The functions provides a living for two people, a double bed, a small kitchen and bathroom, a living room and roof terrace. The access to the cabin is by a rope ladder or a rope bridge.
To prevent birds fly into the windows, transparent stickers, visible for birds, will be added to the facades.
More about Tham + Videgard Hansson Arkitekter on Dezeen:
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Posted by Rose Etherington
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
This is nothing but a contemporary elven ‘flet’ (as seen in Lothlorien).
It is brilliant.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Perhaps I am being overly pragmatic here, but how will the drainage from the bathroom and kitchen be dealt with? I suspect a camouflaged waste pipe might be required, leading to a series of camouflaged septic tanks? I presume the shelters will be powered by electric (kitchen hob included) – maybe some of the facade or the roof could harness the suns (filtered) rays to provide electric & hot water etc? Seems to be in early stages of development so I am sure these issues will all be addressed.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Great! But make sure the birds don’t kill themselves flying against the reflective aluminium walls.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
yes, BH, you’re been dramatically pragmatic. But as yourself adressed, this problems could be, with some thinking, resolved. Good project, eco-friendly pilotis.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
..i dont think it’s overly pragmatic to ask how people are going to sh*t when u are planning to complete a hotel in a year.
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
nice images… but I’d like to see how you can make it real!
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
…
Not sure why, but I feel sorry for the trees
The trees look uncomfortable with these boxy pimples
…
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
…
Oh, and when will Europeans stop discriminating against cripples??
It’s just plain criminal that access isn’t afforded to all
…
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
not convinced…
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
BRAVO!
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Timberrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Sawdust can be used to mask and deal with sanitary needs and emptied right after any visitors leave.
This is only one solution but I imagine this problem has already been addressed.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
this idea was already some what done by dan hisel architect for the cadyville sauna
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Why not just put the boxes on manmade poles? How would this affect the trees? I also wonder about the effect on their growth, stability, etc. Trees have evolved to hold their own weight, not that plus several thousand pounds. Just seems like a silly project.
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
WOW – spectacular concept – seemingly non-invasive architecture.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 pm
how do u get into those boxes?
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Fantastic concept.
needs a bit more, but what a start!
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
This is hypocrisy and “green-washing” to the extreme! Hanging a huge box on a living tree will likely seriously damage the tree; mirror claddings kill birds, glass and aluminum all have very high embodied energy… The sensation of floating in the forest can be easily achieved without the above offences to nature! What a terrible project. I’m surprised locals are not up in arms protesting.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
maybe they will take care of business in the forest)
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 pm
i love it!
not sure if its practical, but interesting. i do feel bad for the birds.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:17 am
this is how human love nature? by hurting them? shame!
February 24th, 2009 at 4:52 am
how do u get up there?
February 24th, 2009 at 5:16 am
In the second image there are the faintest traces of a canopy walkway… I think the built result will be more substantial and less ephemeral than what has been illustrated here.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:58 am
how will this even be structurally stable…
February 24th, 2009 at 6:07 am
awesome
but i would not stay here in a windy day, those trees must move a lot in windy days
but still, awesome
February 24th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Nice
but where is the bathroom?
February 24th, 2009 at 9:19 am
True JW, the text says that there is a bathroom but it not shown on the drawings. Maybe it was omitted because of the associated problems? Perhaps there is a small hole in the lower level, that would certainly be a natural solution and might help fertilize the tree – help it stay strong to fight against all the imposed loading. Watch out below!!!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Why do they have to be suspended??? If the idea is to comouflage them in the trees why cant we just leave them on the ground, and not have problems with drainpipes etc as mentioned.
Elevate them on small decks of different heights if you want to give residents elevated views among the trees. What say designers???
February 24th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Its a really interesting conceptual idea of bringing people closer to nature and promoting eco friendliness. However on the practical side, how am I suppose to bring my luggage up there?
February 24th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Hey I think this is the best tree house I’ve ever seen… I love the simplicity of it. I think this hotel makes it okay to be a kid again (albeit a sophisticated kid). And I think it’d be okay that it doesn’t have plumbing. I think it would bring two levels to the design, one being the superficial layer, where you think you’ll be staying in this upscale civilized hotel that happens to be in a tree, and the other level being connected to nature. So what if you have use the restroom through a hole? That’s how they used to do it right? Anyway, it’s an awesome post, and I would love to stay in it sometime!
February 25th, 2009 at 1:41 am
This idea is definitely unacceptable. Its impossible to fix any bigger structure without harming tree-its trunk. Btw. its also forbidden to build any observing shelters for hunters in my country due to this reason. How architects deal with getting rid of waste from kitchen and bathroom? What about wind shakes? Is it a permanent structure? Are those mirrorlike claddings antireflexive? So what about sun beam reflections?
February 25th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
come on! is not possible to buid this…
February 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
yes, my parrat flew into my window last week and its brains splattered all over the glass , its not a pretty sight if your rooting the babe ….
February 26th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Who cares if this is “impossible” to build. Jeez, if every designer had that outlook nothing new nor interesting would be produced. Conceptually, this is beautiful. I love it. Nice vision.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Antireflexive mirror? What a concept! And yes I can imagine a handicaped guy taking a lone trip into a harsh and deep wood just to be disappointed about his room wich doesn’t have an easy access. Maybe they should build a path minimum 1,2m wide, max 6% inclination and with a hard and plan floor in the middle of the woods just to make the whole woods accessible. Typical of maybe… americans? And for the disposal who cares? Go make it behind the bush! Beware don’t bump into that antireflexive wolf there!
February 26th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
@ness:
I was just thinking the same thing.
Looks good, but.. beware of the breeze. =)
February 27th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
it feels like i should dislike this, but i’m quite intrigued….and without any intent of being malicious, will the next step be…the box in the cave?
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 am
http://yellowtreehouse.co.nz/
Check this out… a much more sensitive approach
March 10th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
And what if there`s a storm?? Storms often ripp trees from the ground. A big box will certainly not help…
March 10th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
LEGAL!!
March 10th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I think this works very well at a conceptual level. It appeals to the basic needs of architecture, reducing the impact of a building on nature and on another level relating to childhood memories.
About the more pragmatic issues such as toilets and disabled access, they are not mentioned but one could think that they were not left to chance, perhaps solved some other way, a volume closer to the ground that incorporate all these other functions of a proper hotel.. no?
March 10th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
i like this idea
human back on the trees
May 12th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
how do u get up there? and wht about windows for fresh air.????
August 28th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Great! I’d love to try living on those. Its great of them to come up with a unique location and design for a hotel and it has style too.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Great! Is all I can say about that hotel. I would love to stay in that hotel and experience living in a hotel on a tree with a room in a form of a square.