Image by Espen Folgerø
Located on top of a rocky incline in the snowy Seven Mountains of Bergen, Norway, the ‘Tubakuba’ cabin is a cozy wood and glass cabin with an entryway that resembles a black hole.
It was designed as part of a workshop at the Bergen School of Architecture, which was conducted by Espen Folgerø from OPA Form Architects.
The 150-square-foot building is accessed by crawling through a tunnel that makes it seem like you are traveling in a portal to another dimension.
Deriving its name from the tuba, the tunnel comprises curved pine shavings that are covered in untreated larch that turns gray over time.
The interior of the ‘Tubakuba’ cabin is made of plywood, while the exterior consists mostly of burned larch that has been treated with a 19th century traditional Japanese method called Shou Sugi Ban—this prevents fungal decay and damage.
“The entrance is shaped like the mouth of a tuba to experiment with wood as a material, to give children a place to play even if the hut is closed, and to force adults to crouch to get in, even if kids don’t have to,” said Folgerø to Fast Company.
After clambering through the claustrophobic space, visitors emerge on the other side and are greeted with breathtaking views of the city below.
Described as an “off-the-grid hotel room”, it is available for people to lounge in during the day, and can be rented for free to families with young children.
Check out some pictures of the ‘Tubakuba’ cabin below. Would you like to spend a night there?
Image by Gunnar Sørås
Image by Helge Skodvin
Image by Stine Elise Kristoffersen
Image by Helge Skodvin
Image by Gunnar Sørås
[via Fast Company and Arch Daily, images by various individuals via Arch Daily]