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A tranquil wooden cabin perched on a hillside in Northern Sweden, the Söderloftet is a project by the architectural studio Fria Folket and is part of the Bergaliv landscape hotel. Completed in 2021, the small getaway cabin is located on a rock ledge on Åsberget mountain and offers a spectacular vista over the Ljusnan river valley. The name, meaning "South Loft," reflects its positioning. The structure is raised on slender pillars, a design choice that makes it appear to float among the surrounding treetops and balances the expansive landscape with a fine-tuned connection to the nearby forest.
The 20-square-meter cabin consists of two main parts: a closed, heated living area and a large, open-air veranda that includes a covered viewing platform. The sheltered space features an extensive ceiling height of 4.5 meters, which provides an airy ambiance and allows for a smaller sleeping loft above the main living area. Inside, the design marries Nordic minimalism with Japanese-inspired aesthetics, using clean lines and light woods such as birch, fir, and heart pine.
The flexible layout and minimal furnishings serve to emphasize the views of nature. A low wooden platform, for instance, can function as seating, a bed, or a space for yoga. To maximize its connection with the surrounding environment, the cabin's construction avoids plastics, and the walls and roof are insulated with flax fibers, a nod to traditional Nordic building methods. The Söderloftet stands as a serene and unobtrusive retreat, designed to help visitors escape a hectic life and find tranquility in nature.
Credits
Architects: Fria Folket
Lead Architect: Hanna Michelson
Client/Partner: Bergaliv landscape hotel
Contractor: AJ Hälsinge renovering och bygg and Bygg Produktion i Bollnäs AB
Photographs: Hanna Michelson
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Fria Folket
About
Fria Folket:
Fria Folket is a Swedish architecture studio based in Stockholm that focuses on architectural projects, often emphasizing sustainability, local materials, and traditional building techniques. They are known for their thoughtful approach to design, creating spaces that respond to both the client's needs and the surrounding environment. Their notable work includes the Library House, which is organized around a central library and courtyard, designed to provide spaces for both individual work and shared living.
