Älvdans

With a hotel, restaurant, world-class spa, and conference facilities, Älvdans will cater to both local, national, and international visitors by offering a unique opportunity to submerge into nature, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Inspired by the spectacular Swedish landscape, the design concept interacts and points to qualities of the surrounding environment. The design is characterised by its generosity, allowing nature to take centre stage instead of being overshadowed by a collection of imposing architectural structures.

The careful consideration and appreciation for the surrounding environment are palpable through the selection of materials. By utilising locally sourced timber and stone, a direct connection is established between the buildings and the site, fostering an on-going dialogue between nature and the built environment – as well as the people visiting the site.

Native species adorn the courtyards spaces, which offer a perfect location for outdoor activities such as yoga and mindfulness courses during summer or a shielded space for contemplation during the cold winter months.

Moving from the hotel to the spa, the restaurant, or out into nature for a hike, guests will be walking via corridors inspired by the old monasteries. An operatable glass façade allows for direct views into the inner courtyards, making the transition from A to B part of the overall experience of being close to nature

Upon arrival, guests will enter a warm and welcoming lobby with a bar and lounge area and a sunken seating zone with an open stone hearth that calls for relaxing activities. The exposed timber structure of the large sloping roof hovering above the lobby space references the vernacular Swedish barn. Transparent glass facades create a gradual transition between the inside and the outside to enforce the experience of being close to nature. 

All interiors are furnished with Scandinavian design to further strengthen the sense of a place and promote the Scandinavian design tradition relying on fine craftmanship, natural materials and harmony between function and aesthetics.

In ancient folklore there was a notion that when the elves were dancing, smoke would form and sweep over the meadows. Today, the expression is commonly used as a reference to fog near the ground, which most often occurs in summer and autumn during clear and windless mornings, evenings, and nights. By using locally sourced materials, Älvdans will be deeply rooted in its natural environment and pay homage to its Nordic origins whilst exploring the softened interaction between nature and architecture.

Inside the hotel rooms, the floors, ceilings, and walls are clad in locally sourced timber, and beds are raised to window height providing unobstructed views of the breath-taking natural surroundings – a motif which will change according to the season and time of day. To maximise the amount of natural daylight and fresh air, all rooms have double exposure.