Snøhetta, the renowned Norwegian practice of architecture, landscape, and interior architecture, as well as our passion for Skandinavia and hiking, do not need to be told. Tungestølen is the perfect melt of all these passions where Snøhetta designed spectacular cabins.
Tungestølen comprises a constellation of pentagonal timber cabins designed by Snøhetta for Luster Turlag, a local branch of the Norwegian National Trekking Association, on a small plateau overlooking the beautiful Jostedalen glacier.
In 2011 the original Tungestølen tourist cabin, which had served as an important destination for avowed glacier hikers for more than a century, was completely devastated by the cyclone Dagmar that swept over Norway and neighboring countries. Determined to replace the old cabin, Luster Turlag and the small local village of Veitastrond, mobilized to collect funds for the rebuild and initiated an international architectural competition that Snøhetta won in 2015.
Designed as an architectural reaction to the changing weather conditions of this mountainous site, the distinct cabins offer tourists a comfortable and generous shelter during the summer and autumn months when the cabin is open to the public.
With the ravaging of the original Tungestølen cabin fresh in mind, Snøhetta designed a new constellation of nine robust pentagonal and oblique cabins, made with wooden glue-lam frames, covered by sheets of CLT and clad in ore pine. The outward-facing walls of the cabins have been given a beak-like shape to slow down strong winds sweeping up from the valley floor. Inside, the playful shape of the cabins frames the mountains and valleys outside through angular and panoramic windows, adding views and light to the spaces while encouraging individual contemplation and respite.
The main cabin at Tungestølen offers a welcoming space well-suited for collective meals around generous wooden tables. At its highest, the ceiling measures 4,6 meters, creating a social and spacious meeting spot with panoramic views overlooking the surrounding landscape. The main cabin also comprises a comfortable lounge framed by a large stone-clad fireplace, offering a cozy retreat from the sometimes-chilly summer days outside.
The remaining cabins consist of a dormitory and a smaller private unit offering approximately 30 visitors the possibility to spend the night comfortably. Once all nine cabins are completed in the next construction phase, Tungestølen will have enough capacity to accommodate up to 50 visitors. One of the final cabins that will be built on the site is the original model for the Snøhetta designed Fuglemyrhytta cabin in Oslo which has become an enormously popular hiking destination ever since its opening in 2018.
Surrounded by a dramatic landscape with steep mountains on all sides, Tungestølen serves as a perfect starting point for adept hikers who wish to conquer local glaciers in guided groups, but also for families with small children who wish to take shorter and less advanced hikes in the surrounding area.
The cabin was officially inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Sonja in Fall 2019 and is now open again for visitors during the hiking season.
Image courtesy: Snøhetta
