The 7th Room
Treehotel
2016–2017
Introduction
In the tall pine forest of Northern Sweden, where the tricolored tree trunks stretch up to the soaring crowns, a new addition to the renowned Treehotel opened in January 2017. Hovering ten meters above the ground within the tree canopy, the Snøhetta-designed 7th room provides its guests with a breathtaking view of the Lapland treetops and the Lule River. With a focus on the surrounding nature, the design features large windows, a netted terrace suspended above the forest floor, and a tree stretching up through the cabin. The boundaries between indoors and outdoors are blurred, making the cabin part of the forest.
Technical details
Treehotel
Twelve columns carry the cabin, reducing the load borne by the trees and its impact on the surrounding forest. This gives a feeling of height and weightlessness, as well as stability.
The 55-square meter space is designed to create a place for living. With two bedrooms, a social lounge area, bathroom, and the airy terrace, the cabin accommodates up to five guests.
Photo: Johan Jansson
The design of the 7th room aims to bring people and nature closer together, extending the cabin’s social spaces to the outside and further blending the distinction between indoor and outdoor. Entering the cabin, one arrives into the lounge area. This is thought of as a social space, and it is furnished with a central pellet stove and simple, yet characteristic furniture such as Scandia Chair by Norwegian furniture designer Hans Brattrud. A north-facing floor-to-ceiling window gives you the best chance to see the Aurora Borealis on a clear day, giving this social space the name the Northern Light lounge.
The varying floor heights creates an efficient and playful interior design. The space is laid out on two levels with only 30 cm difference in height. The lounge area is located on the lower floor, while the bedrooms are on the upper level with the beds embedded in the floor.
A large glass door leads from the lounge area out on the netted terrace. The double-layered net spans between the two bedrooms with a pine tree peeking through in the middle. Extending the social space of the lounge, the net becomes a great opportunity for coming even closer to nature. For the brave ones, a sleeping bag is all you need to enjoy the night under the starry night sky. Guests sleeping inside can also look up at the night sky, with expansive, openable skylights in both bedrooms. The bedrooms are located on opposite sides of the cabin, facing the central tree and net, with large sliding glass doors to enter out on the net.
Photo: Johan Jansson
