A Nearly Invisible "Hytte" Rises From a High Plateau in Norway
Snøhetta puts a contemporary twist on the traditional Norwegian ski cabin.
Snøhetta puts a contemporary twist on the traditional Norwegian ski cabin.
The cold arc of the sky is bright blue, and the high Norwegian plateau at the edge of Hardangervidda National Park is even brighter white. Cross-country skiers in red anoraks, black knickers, and long white woolen stockings kick-glide along freshly groomed tracks into the distance.
This is the winter view from Eivind Bøhn’s hytte, or cabin: 270 degrees of pristine snowfields and dramatic mountain ridges.
"I wanted something that felt remote," says Eivind.
Eivind Bøhn’s cabin on the outskirts of Hardangervidda National Park is a modern update of the classic Norwegian hytte. The design, by Snøhetta architect Øystein Tveter, features a sod-covered roof that blends with the grassy hillside in warmer months.
Photo by Nadia Norskott
The seclusion is deceptive. Eivind’s cabin is part of Dalsethaugen, a development of 20-plus cabins along a winding road, high above the Numedal valley, a little more than two hours northwest of Oslo. Many Norwegian families own or have access to a cabin in the mountains, a place to escape from the rush of modern life. Traditionally, these cabins have been simple and utilitarian, often without electricity or running water; they sometimes require visitors to hike or ski for miles before reaching the doorstep.
Eivind did most of the construction himself, but he did have some help from his friends: While hosting a party at the not-quite-finished house on New Year’s Eve in 2016, Eivind cajoled the group into carrying the kitchen’s 11-foot concrete countertop in from the garage so that he could install it. "They had to," he says. "Otherwise, there was no place to prepare the food."
Photo by Nadia Norskott
In the living area, floor-to-ceiling windows by Schüco frame a Gyrofocus suspended rotating fireplace by Focus. At night, a crackling fire appears to hover in the dark.
Photo by Nadia Norskott
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Nearly Invisible "Hytte" Rises From a High Plateau in Norway
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