Molière once said the greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in overcoming it. That rings true in the case of the Movikheien Cabin Resort by the Spacegroup. Set on the east coast of Norway, around 2.5 hours by car from Oslo (right next to the largest national park in the country), Movikheien was not only conceived as a quick-build project to satisfy a growing demand for staycations, it was also supposed to create as little damage as possible to the environment. “The onset of the global pandemic, limitations in travel activity, great uncertainty in the aviation industry and a historically weak krone, has resulted in a huge rise in the attractiveness of local destinations, “ says Gary Bates, an American architect who founded Spacegroup in 1999 along with a Norwegian AHO professor, Gro Bonesmo, after serving a long tour of duty as a director at OMA. “Unfortunately, many of the cabins popping up across Norway appear to be on steroids. Movik on the other hand is premised on a light touch that sets a new standard in terms of sustainable design, with a minimal physical encroachment on nature and the terrain.”
There are 16 cabins in all. Each is limited to 64 sqm and made entirely of wood, standing on small diameter steel rod columns that are drilled into the bedrock. Freeholds will be sold, with buyers owning only their cabin's projected footprint while collectively sharing the landscape that connects them. “This will provide a basis for cultivating social capital while protecting the natural assets of the place,” explains Bates.
So, what aspect does Bates take particular satisfaction in? “I am really proud that we managed to change the way of planning such a project, replacing cars with paths, and designing in balance with nature rather than destroying it.” As it turns out, Spacegroup didn’t just conceive how the project should look but how it should be built too. Bates explains how their 'light touch approach' even had them dictate what kind of machinery should be allowed to bring materials to site, while also banning the use of cranes, helicopters, and all big machines.
Oriented to maximise privacy, Movikheien cabins combine huge sliding glass fronts with solid pine floors, as well as birch plywood walls and ceilings. The colours are light and natural, and the specs are top notch, including a micro-cement fireplace, granite top kitchen, Frankie sinks and a Bora stove. “We have been fortunate to work with a client who has a high demand for quality both in the detailing and the products selected,” adds Bates.
Construction is set to begin in the spring and will last one year.
