On a small plateau in Luster, located in the western part of Norway, Tungestølen is a series of nine pentagonal timber cabins that look out over a beautiful glacier environment. Designed by Snøhetta, the cabins replace an original tourist cabin destroyed by a cyclone in 2011. The project was commissioned by Luster Turlag, a local branch of the Norwegian national trekking association.
Keeping in mind lessons learned from the destruction of the original cabin and the dramatic weather conditions of this mountainous site, Snøhetta designed the new cabins with glulam frames, covered by sheets of CLT and clad with ore pine.
The beak-like shape of the exterior cabin walls helps to slow down the strong winds that sweep in from the valley floor. Inside, the playful cabin shapes frame views of mountains and valleys through angular and panoramic windows that flood the spaces with natural light.
The main cabin at the development offers a welcoming space that can host collective meals around generous wooden tables. The ceiling within this cabin measures 4.6 meters in height at this highest, resulting in a grand space with powerful views over the landscape. The cabin also features a comfortable lounge, framed by a large stone-clad fireplace.
The remaining cabins host dormitory and smaller unit accommodations. Once all nine cabins are fully completed, the site will have enough capacity to host up to 50 visitors per night. One of the final cabins that will be built on the site is the original model Snøhetta designed Fuglemyrhytta cabin in Oslo, which has become an enormously popular hiking destination ever since its opening in 2018.
Tungestølen was officially inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Sonja last fall and is preparing to host visitors when hiking season commences this season.
