In the dense forest by one of Oslo’s most beautiful viewpoints overlooking the Oslo fjord at Vettakollen, Snøhetta has designed Fuglemyrhytta, a small self-service cabin ideal for school groups and families with small children. The space has already become a hugely popular hiking destination for people in the Oslo area. The cabin is composed of two staggered pentagonal volumes, whose shapes and height add a sense of lightness to the different rooms. The shape of the rooms further creates clever sleeping solutions and more interesting views out on the surrounding landscape.
Fuglemyrhytta is beautifully placed on the west side of a small hill by Fuglemyra, only a short walk from the panoramic viewpoint of Vettakollen outside of Oslo, Norway. The cabin can only be accessed by foot and is situated close to the Vettakollen metro stop which connects with the city center. Fuglemyrhytta can also be accessed by foot from popular trekking destinations further away, such as Sognsvann and Frognerseteren.
The cabin can accommodate up to 16 people by day and 8 people over night. Since its opening in September 2018, Fuglemyrhytta has hosted over 2 000 overnight guests – more than six times the average for similar self-service cabins – and is usually fully booked every day of the week.
The structure is made from cross-laminated timber and two stiffened glulam frames isolated and clad with ore-pine. The choice of locally sourced, natural materials contributes to a healthy indoor climate and ensures that the cabin has a low carbon footprint. The solid cross-laminated timber materiality also dominates the interior. Selected inside walls are treated with hard wax oil to create variations in the surfaces, and color choices ranging from light gray, burgundy and orange offer a modern take on the traditional Norwegian cabin life.