Fjell Spa + Lodge

Situated at the threshold between a forested creek and the expansive views over the Norwegian landscape, the design for this spa amplifies the intimate, the infinite, and the in-between. Dividing the program between two forms, the building separates the communal lodge from the restorative spa. This is realized with a wooden frame lodge resting across the peeled up earth of the hillside in which the spa is embedded.

As a comprehensive studio, the design included detailed passive design strategies and energy modeling in order to meet ultra-efficient energy and sustainability performance requirements. These targets were exceeded by balancing a daylight and cross-ventilation optimized form with the thermal benefits of an embedded structure in the hillside. Together, the dual forms interweave to create a variety of spaces that support diverse uses.