The first post of the new year is dedicated to one of our passions: hotels. We actively seek out properties around the world that excel in innovation, creativity, architecture, design and the unique experiences they offer. While I haven’t had a chance to explore the Nordic countries recently, the Panorama Landscape Hotel and Forest Spa caught my eye: a tranquil retreat in the Finnish forest, a novel hilltop hotel in eastern Finland with a sauna on stilts and minimalist cabins.
Rintala Eggertsson Architects, a studio based in Norway, has deftly created structures that seamlessly integrate with nature rather than disrupt it. Notable examples include the Arctic Hideaway in Fleinvær and the Safe House in Kalsholmen.
Situated on a wooded hilltop in eastern Finland, the site offers captivating views of the inland lake landscape. To preserve the site’s inherent qualities, the program has been divided into smaller volumes strategically placed among the existing trees.
The spa experience is intimately tied to interactions with nature and weather: visitors can luxuriate in a warm bath and sauna surrounded by nature, then cool off in the snow and fresh air. This interplay between temperature and the outdoors, with steam rising from the body, is the basis for an authentic Finnish sauna experience.
The project consists of three elements: a brighter and more social restaurant, a darker and more intimate spa, and ten detached cabins thoughtfully placed in the forest to offer the most captivating views.
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