48° NORD LANDSCAPE HØTEL, ALSACE.
ARCHITECT: REIULF RAMSTAD ARKITEKTER
STYLE: SCANDINAVIAN MINIMALISM
YEAR: 2020
COUNTRY: FRANCE
Alsace is better known for its half-timbered houses and picturesque villages than for contemporary Nordic architecture. But high on a hillside in Breitenbach, 48° Nord Landscape Høtel has introduced something rather unexpected: a collection of timber cabins that look as though they have wandered over from Norway and decided the French countryside suited them rather well.
Designed by Norwegian practice Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, the hotel consists of 14 individual cabins scattered across a gently sloping landscape. Their angular forms, steeply pitched roofs and untreated timber cladding draw on Scandinavian building traditions, while their careful positioning responds to the contours of the Alsatian hillside. Rather than competing with the scenery, the architecture seems content to become part of it.
Inside, pale timber, generous glazing and restrained furnishings create a distinctly Nordic atmosphere. The cabins are compact but thoughtfully arranged, with large windows framing the surrounding meadows, forests and distant mountains. Some feature private saunas and outdoor hot tubs, although the views are arguably quite enough entertainment on their own.
The wider project places considerable emphasis on sustainability and its relationship with the land. A restaurant celebrates local produce, while the surrounding landscape is left largely undisturbed. There are no grand gestures or unnecessary distractions — simply good architecture, fresh air and a rather convincing argument for doing less.
A LITTLE NORWEGIAN SENSIBILITY, A GREAT DEAL OF ALSATIAN COUNTRYSIDE, AND NOT A HALF-TIMBERED FAÇADE IN SIGHT.
