MULTI-LEVEL NOMADIC SHELTER IS A REFLECTION OF NORDIC TRADITIONS

A temporary habitat that is put together using only manpower, screws and straps

SALT is a program inspired by nomadic traditions and driven by a connection to the Arctic landscape. Their projects are rooted in forgotten structures that represent the historic Nordic lifestyle, and over the course of a year, the structures are making their way across the far north.

Part of SALT’s program is the SALT Siida Workshop, which brought together architects, architecture students and artists to focus on nomadic construction techniques. The Nomadic Shelter is a result of this collaboration.

The four-level shelter is a prototype built of thirteen simple wooden boxes fixed in place with screws and straps. Clearly intended as a temporary habitat, it can be assembled without machine intervention, and it can also easily be taken apart and transported.

When assembled, the shelter reaches a height of 4.8 meters. The boxes that make up the structure are also perfectly sized to be used as sleeping pallets. Playfully arranged across different levels, the sleeping spaces can accommodate up to twelve people. The empty central column serves as a fire pit at ground level and leaves a well for smoke to rise.

Outdoor cladding makes the shelter windproof and waterproof and thus more suitable to harsh climates. However, strategically placed windows maintain a strong connection with nature.