BIG designs treetop hotel room with a façade of bird nests in sweden

experience nature in BIG-designed ‘biosphere’

350 bird nests cover a hotel room suspended between trees that bjarke ingels group / BIG has designed for treehotel in northern sweden. named ‘biosphere’, the 34 sqm treehouse will become treehotel’s 8th experimental guest room. the getaway for bird and nature lovers is currently under construction and is set to open for visitors in may 2022.

a hotel room wrapped in an ecological habitat

with an elevational treatment that doubles as a habitat for birds, the BIG-designed guest room aims to decrease the downward spiral of bird populations in sweden and instead strengthen the natural biosphere. the danish studio collaborated closely with treehotel and swedish ornithologist ulf öhman on the project.

‘inventories in norrbotten county, carried out both by us as ornithologists and by the county administrative board, show that a number of different bird populations are decreasing. forestry has led to a reduced number of natural holes in trees where breeding bird nests. the installation of bird nests is therefore an important measure to take,’ explains öhman, who is chairman of the norrbotten ornithological association.

öhman continues, ‘furthermore, climate change leads to the insect boom happening earlier in the year, and by the time the birds’ eggs hatch, the boom has already passed. feeding is an important support mechanism for the birds that stay in northern sweden and require food during winter. demonstrating the use of bird nests and feeding, not just at the treehotel but for people to install near their own homes, is valuable. an initiative from treehotel to take such measures may inspire their visitors to do the same.’

guests access biosphere via a suspended bridge. once inside, they’ll find simple and pragmatic interiors characterized by dark hues and organic materials inspired by the surrounding landscape. the highlight of the hotel accommodation is a roof terrace — close to the treetop canopies — that offers a 360-degree view of the forest. designed for two people, the program comprises one double bed, a living space, a shower and incinerating toilet, and a sauna.

find out more about biosphere on the treehotel website here and see more treehouses on designboom here.

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project info:

name: biosphere

location: harads, sweden

client: treehotel

architecture: bjarke ingels group / BIG 

partner-in-charge: bjarke ingels, joão albuquerque

project leader: geoffrey eberle, angel barreno gutiérrez

project architect: francisco abajo duran

team: eszter olah, ragna nordstrom, pawel marjanski

collaborators: ulf öhman, chairman of the norrbotten ornithological association, ateljé lyktan, vittjärvshus

size: 34 sqm

status: under construction