You’ve Never Seen a Treehouse Like This Before
- Written by
- On Wednesday, May 12, 2021
All images courtesy of Helen & Hard
Located in the steep hills of Odda, Norway, Woodnest is a treehouse cabin design created by Norwegian architecture practice Helen & Hard. The practice built two of the cabins within walking distance to one another, and both were constructed with deep consideration for the surrounding environment. The cabins are suspended 5-6 meters above the ground and fastened to the trunk of a living pine tree, giving new meaning to indoor-outdoor living.
“Stemming from the client’s wish to create a unique spatial experience that connects to both the ordinary and extraordinary sensation of climbing and exploring trees,” said Helen & Hard of the project, “our aim was to create a space that truly embodies what it means to dwell in nature.”
And that is exactly what they accomplished with this design. To reach the Woodnest cabins, visitors must take a 20-minute walk from Odda through the forest along a steep winding path. This path will lead to a small timber bridge that slopes up to reach the cabin’s front door.
Inside the 15-square-meter structure, visitors will find four sleeping nooks situated around the cabin’s central tree trunk, along with a bathroom, kitchen, and living area. The cabin’s wide expanse of windows makes it easy to take in views of the surrounding forest hills, and its construction honors the forest trees by focusing on the building potential of wood.
According to Helen & Hard, “At the very core of the project is the appreciation of timber as a building material. Inspired by the Norwegian cultural traditions of vernacular timber architecture, together with a desire to experiment with the material potential of wood, the architecture is structurally supported by the tree trunk itself, and formed from a series of radial glu-laminated timber ribs. The untreated natural timber shingles encase the volume creating a protective skin around the building, which will weather over time to merge and blend with the natural patina of the surrounding forest.”
The firm intended for these cabins to give people a greater appreciation for the small details of natural environments, offering an ideal place to reflect on the beauty of nature and its boundless capabilities.
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