Enjoy 2 free articles a month. For unlimited access, get a membership now.

Say hello to modern camping: Snøhetta and Vipp unveil four off-grid Norway lodges

BOOKMARK ARTICLE
A group of fjord-facing cabins on the west coast of Norway by Snøhetta and Vipp provide an uninterrupted – yet comfortable – nature experience. - Elin Engelsvoll
Cabins Stylten, Myra, Stjerna are all 38 sq-m and Eldhuset is around 60 sq-m. - Elin Engelsvoll
Together the Bolder Star Lodges, they are woven into the natural landscape of Lysefjorden, an hour-and-a-half drive from Stavanger. - Elisabeth Heier

1 / 11

Architecture
Interior Design
Client
Tom Bjarte Norland

A group of fjord-facing cabins on the west coast of Norway by Snøhetta and Vipp provide an uninterrupted – yet comfortable – nature experience.  

Key features

Snøhetta collaborated with Danish interior brand Vipp and local entrepreneur Tom Bjarte Norland to construct cabins Stylten, Myra, Stjerna (all 38 sq-m) and Eldhuset (around 60 sq-m). Together the Bolder Star Lodges, they are woven into the natural landscape of Lysefjorden, an hour-and-a-half drive from Stavanger. ‘The goal was to create a total experience for the visitors – coming back to a cozy, warm wooden nest with a spectacular panoramic view of the ever-changing weather after a beautiful day of hiking along the fjord,’ explains Snøhetta architect Frank Denis Foray. Lifted off the ground by large concrete pillars, each of the buildings gives the feeling of weightless suspension over the scenic expanse.

Wide glass façades and roofing with mirrored undersides add to the immersive sensation. Snøhetta and Vipp adopted a minimalistic design ethos to achieve a meditative flow of spaces. Externally, red cedar wood and concrete parallel the site’s abundance of granite and slow-growing pine trees; the wood of trees that were removed construction was saved for other parts of the project and granite cut from the ground is an aggregate in the concrete. Indoors, furniture in natural, durable materials like oak, marble and leather, and organic textures are to be found. On the ground floors are built-in beds and bathrooms, with the kitchens and dining areas situated above.  

Two constructions are still in the works: a lounge and a gourmet restaurant that will serve locally sourced food.

FRAME’s take

Cabins have taken a main place on the hospitality design agenda in recent months. The wider industry is taking note: at the start of February, we named a similarly woven-into-nature Dutch cabin design our FRAME Awards January winner. Other recent examples of next-gen lodges have emerged in the Netherlands, and Snøhetta has long led the movement. Each of these works – including the new Bolder Star Lodges – are united by the push for more sustainable construction and spaces that improve wellbeing. 

Indeed, part of getting people to spend more time in nature is showing just how desirable and comfortable the experience can be. Goodbye green tents and constantly deflated air mattresses. Off-grid glamping is here to stay, and that’s largely in part thanks to spaces like these cabins. Let’s hope increase in demand for such venues results in a more responsible bond between designer, consumer and nature, and not furthered environmental exploitation.

Unlock more inspiration and insights with FRAME

Get 2 premium articles for free each month

Create a free account