Design
Left: The Biosphere is a suite set within the Harad’s forest, actively helping the local wildlife to fl ourish.
Below: The Bawah Reserve was constructed entirely using
traditional methods.
Opposite: Set in a beautiful location, the Bawah Reserve allows guests to enjoy the surroundings while maintaining a sustainable lifestyle.
consideration of how they could minimise the impact that construction would have on the environment. “Strong climatic contrasts through the seasons in northern Sweden required us to use highly-resilient architectural types. This, of course, creates natural limitations, but a tenet of good design is that it works well within its confinement,” he says. “We chose to incorporate strong local materials such as wood and stone; we also included a pellet chimney to reduce energy consumption.” Suspended between two trees and accessed via a
bridge that slopes from the ground to the treetops, the hotel room is contained in a triple-glazed, 34m2 cube surrounded by a metal grid that supports the birdhouses. These are varied in size and expand outwards, encouraging many different species to nest while simultaneously letting light inside the room. Being wrapped in an ecological habitat, the room enables guests to observe native birdlife in close proximity – it also has a roof terrace with panoramic views of the forest, which acts as a vantage point for bird-spotting. “Biosphere creates an immersive coexistence with nature, allowing guests to enjoy its beauty but also reminding them of the importance of our environment and the necessity of a good balance with our surroundings,” explains Barreno, who adds that the hope is for the design to also inspire visitors to introduce birds’ nests to their own homes when they return to them. The interior is simple and pragmatic, with dark
furnishings that invite your gaze outwards through the large windows. A double bed is accessed from the living space using a stepladder, as is the case with all the other rooms at Treehotel. The biosphere has an incinerating toilet and makes use of the sustainable Rukkamoinika water system that provides three litres of clean water for washing hands. There is also
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com 53
a shower, drinkable tap water and a sauna. “Treehotel’s design is traditionally based in sustainability principles: a low-energy consumption structure with very simple and smart construction systems and self-sustainable solutions,” Barreno describes.
Systemic sustainability On the other side of the globe, some 6,500 miles away from Sweden, is Bawah Reserve in Indonesia. A private island that is home to a number of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, as well as surrounding coral reefs, it was built in 2017 with sustainability at its heart. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the resort has only been open for two years, but it has already made great strides in the industry with its eco practices. No heavy machinery was used in Bawah’s construction; instead, it was formed using traditional methods and materials such as fast-growing bamboo
BIG; Bawah Reserve
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