Happy New Year! I hope you’re having a good January so far. It’s a gloomy, rain-soaked day here in Bristol, so for my first post of 2024 I’m sharing a bit of escapism with a peek at Sjöparken – a beautiful new hotel concept with calming, minimalist design, set amid the undulating fields of Ästad Vineyard in Halland, western Sweden.
Designed by Norm Architects, Sjöparken consists of seven villas with four guest suites apiece, clustered around a lake at the heart of the estate. The emphasis throughout is very much on the natural landscape, with understated architecture that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. Norm drew on many different sources of inspiration, including rustic Nordic fishing huts, traditional Japanese houses and the glass corridors of Denmark’s famous Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and there are also nods to the architectural heritage of the local area in the green roofs and vertical wooden cladding. Yet despite the diverse influences, the overall effect is harmonious and cohesive.
Inside, the design exudes simplicity without sacrificing warmth or tactility. The combination of oak, natural stone and raw linen references the rock formations and forests of the surrounding landscape, with upholstered headboards, rugs and rounded sofas (Norm’s own ‘Offset’ range for Audo Copenhagen) adding touches of softness.
In each room, the bedroom is divided from the lounge area by wooden louvre screens, striking a balance between transparency and privacy. They also serve to filter the light into ever-changing art that dances on the walls and plaster ceilings, eliminating the need for any additional decor other than a few well-chosen ceramics.
This interplay between sunlight and the internal surfaces is enhanced by the artificial lighting, developed in collaboration with Anker & Co. The aim was to create subtle illumination that accentuates rather than competes with the lake outside, and much of it seemingly disappears into the structure of the buildings. In fact the only lighting fixtures that are visible at first glance are the basket-like Ay Illuminate ‘Z11’ pendants (another reference to fishing huts) and black wall lamps that echo the shape of the lily pads dotted around the lake. Doors are also concealed to maintain a sleek appearance, with only the handles on show.
In deliberate contrast with the other areas of the suites, the bathrooms are a cocooning embrace of dark tones, with grey wall and floor tiles, black fittings and sinks hewn from solid stone. The effect is one of entering a shadowy, tranquil cave, before you step into the shower and re-emerge into the light thanks to a vast skylight that extends the space upwards.
Each room also has its own sauna, a deck with an outdoor shower, and direct access to a natural swimming pool discretely hidden beneath the surface of the lake. Throughout, uninterrupted views of the water create the illusion of floating.
Norm Architects was also responsible for designing one of the vineyard’s on-site eateries, Restaurang ÄNG. Conceived as a culinary experience that engages all senses, it occupies a spectacular glasshouse and serves up 19-course tasting menus celebrating local, seasonal and sustainable produce.
Guests begin their meal gazing over the landscape in the airy lounge and bar area, before descending via a hidden lift to the catacomb-like wine cellar, which is stocked with bottles from France and Ästad’s own vines. Then it’s on to the main dining room through a giant pivoting door, to be greeted by organic forms, earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling views of the lake.
As with the guests rooms at Sjöparken, the focus throughout is creating a connection with nature through carefully chosen surfaces, textures and shapes. There are stone, wood and brick elements, along with bespoke sculptures by Norwegian artist Anders Pfeffer Gjengedal, who transforms humble materials into expressive forms inspired by the flowing movements of ballet. Japanese influences also feature strongly, with Zen-like rocks that take their cue from the work of late stone sculptor Masatoshi Izumi, and furniture from Karmokou Case Study. The latter includes a solid-oak lounge table designed exclusively for the restaurant, with a dark-stained spline joint that’s characteristic of Japanese cabinetry.
The whole Ästad estate looks stunning – a serene place where nature, design, architecture, art, wine and food come together. Definitely one to add to my ever-growing travel wish list!
Find out more about Ästad Vineyard and book a stay at Sjöparken here. There are various packages encompassing wellness treatments, meals at Restaurant ÄNG and more.
All photography courtesy of Norm Architects
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