Aurora Cabin
Offering spectacular views across Austnesfjorden, Aurora Cabin is a cosy hideaway in the Lofoten Islands. It features three bedrooms and interiors crafted from untreated wood by a local carpenter.
It is a pure, minimalistic house that uses natural materials as much as possible.
What is the story behind Fjellhytte, what was your inspiration to create it?
We have a house in Mallorca and on the same street, there was another couple from Norway. We got to know one another, became friends and decided to do a project together.
We both live in cities and usually spend our vacations in the Mediterranean. So we thought it would be nice to do something out in nature that could be used throughout the year. In Norway, there is a tradition of going skiing in the winter, then heading out in the summer for hiking and fishing.
We decided to look for a property in one of Scandinavia’s largest ski areas, Trysil, and found a place with lots of trees and a view of the fjell (mountain). Here we built a cabin not only for us to use but also to rent out to guests.
We wanted to create something very pure and easy using traditional materials and Scandinavian design is all about wood. It was important to us that it wasn’t negatively impactful on the environment and climate, as is the case with some log houses that require a lot of trees to build.
We had a few setbacks along the way. The project was pushed back by a year when we failed to get planning permission by the summertime, then the building company we were working with went bankrupt the following year. When we were ready to start again, Coronavirus hit.
But as a result of these delays, we had time to rethink the draft and get more information about cross-laminated timber, which allows you to use the whole tree and prefabricate all of the pieces. It is insulated using wood fibres and treated with a biological agent, which means you don’t have to do anything else for at least 50 years.
How would you describe the atmosphere and interior design of Fjellhytte?
It is a pure, minimalistic house that uses natural materials, with as much wood as possible and stone tiles. Usually, cross-laminated timbers are used solely for construction, then plastered or painted on the interior. But we wanted to retain the exposed wood on the walls, floors and roof, so we used an ecological product for added protection. Over time, the wood will show signs of use and different patinas will be created. It will get old with respect for the material.
Fjellhytte is designed by us, two families (we are two couples both with two kids) and we think it is the perfect size to rent out to guests with a taste for good architecture and Nordic nature. It comprises a main building and a side building (this is typically Scandinavian), although they appear more like one building divided into two parts. In the side building is a sauna, a bathroom and a ski room where you can store all your gear.
The main building is entered through a large hall with two benches where you can sit and take off your ski boots. The building is divided lengthwise down the middle. One one side is the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space (with a fireplace) where all of the social activities take place.
On the other part of the building are the four bedrooms and two bathrooms, all of which are reached via the connecting corridor. On the opposite side of the corridor are wardrobes where you can hang all of your clothing so the bedrooms stay clutter-free and with a calm atmosphere.
Outside the cabin is a parking space for two cars and a terrace around the house.
The final cleaning is included in the rates, as are towels and linens. Guests have full use of the surrounding terrace and grounds with berries growing. You are in the middle of Nordic nature.
Trysil is known for being a very service-oriented and customer-focused place, with experts offering their services in all sorts of activities and outdoor pursuits. Nearby are places to rent bicycles and fishing equipment, as well as rafting courses.
In winter, Trysil is a skiing paradise, with options for cross-country and alpine skiers, as well as terrain parks for snowboarders. It is Scandinavia’s largest ski area with 69 slopes of all levels, from black to beginner-friendly. In total, there are more than 80 km of prepared slopes, served by 32 lifts.
Children from as young as three can enjoy the slopes and there’s an excellent ski school. Not only that, but Trysil is home to extreme black runs or Free-Ski-Parks where the Norwegian and Swedish teams train.
For cross-country skiers, there are over 500 km of groomed cross-country trails available, with direct entry just a few steps from the cabin.
Additionally, there are dog sledding rides available or you can hire snowmobiles to explore. There’s also a nice hotel with a spa and several restaurants.
In spring, summer and autumn, Trysil is an excellent destination for hiking and biking. As you are on top of the tree line, you have open views and the terrain isn’t too steep. In typical Scandinavian style, we leave the cabin in the morning with something to eat and a thermos of tea or coffee and just go out hiking in nature. There are plenty of marked walking trails — the possibilities are endless.
We also recommend going fishing or canoeing and there is an excellent golf course nearby. Outside of the snow season, the ski area transforms into a paradise for mountain bikers, with the lifts taking you to the top of the trails.
Fjellhytte is located in Trysil, which is around two hours’ drive from Oslo. You can either fly into Oslo Airport and rent a car or get the bus directly from the airport to Trysil. Once there, you can rent everything you need for skiing, fishing, biking or canoeing.
The cabin is placed on a dead-end road, with just a few cabins around. So there is very little traffic, except for the machines that come once a day to prepare the roads during the wintertime.
From the cabin, there are spectacular views towards the fjell on one side and down into the valley on the other. You can also see the mountains across the Swedish border.
Fjellhytte is just 50 steps from the cross-country trail network, from where you have access to hundreds of kilometres of prepared slopes for cross-country skiing. You can also use the cross-country network to access the alpine ski area or it’s around three minutes by car. The closest town, Trysil (Innbygda), is around five kilometres away and has supermarkets, shops and several restaurants if you want to eat out.
All year round! The cabin is heated and the atmosphere is always nice. During the year and depending on the season, there are many different activities to do. You can just sit and relax and enjoy the atmosphere in and around the cabin. If you prefer to be active, you can go downhill (all levels) or cross-country skiing, driving a snow-scooter, golfing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, or biking.
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