TUBAKUBA IS AN OFF-THE-GRID HOTEL ROOM IN THE NORWEGIAN FOREST

Visitors can rent the wooden cabin or simply play in its tuba-tunnel entrance

Perched in the mountains adjacent to Bergen, Norway, Tubakuba (Tuba Cube) is the result of a design-build workshop at the Bergen School of Architecture. Led by Espen Folgerø of Bergen-based architecture firm OPA Form, the workshop participants created an off-the-grid urban cottage.

The 14-square-meter cabin is accessed through a tuba tunnel that opens like a vortex on the exterior. The playful facade invites visitors to stop and explore, providing shelter from inclement weather or simply a place to have lunch.

Inside, the cabin is minimal with a simple wood stove, bare wooden platforms and a lofted sleeping area. The cabin has absolutely no electricity, but its small volume minimizes the need for heating. Large windows give visitors the impression of “floating” as they take in the view of the valley below.

The cabin’s structure is made almost entirely of wood. Layers of curved pine shavings make up the tuba tunnel, while the south wall is clad in naked larch. Burnt larch, made using a traditional Japanese method called Shou Sugi Ban, finishes the exterior. In contrast, the interior is lined with simple plywood and insulated with wooden fibers that naturally regulate humidity.

Designed specifically for families with small children, Tubakuba can be rented for one night, free of charge. Thus, families of all means can have access to a unique experience in nature.