Trekronaa Tiny Cottage by Manuela Hardy is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Competition Category.
BronzeArchitecture· 2022
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage
Client: Henrik Stokkeland
Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Architecture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #138871The Design
About Trekronaa Tiny Cottage
Trekronaa is a tiny cottage built among pine trees in Ogna, Norway. The cabin rests on a steel frame supported by three steel legs on concrete, so the structure appears to float and touches the ground lightly. A wooden frame is clad with accoya, and a ramp leads to the entrance and carries the water and electricity lines. Within 15 square meters, the plan holds a small bathroom, a kitchen, a dining table, a bench and beds for four to five people. The design joins comfort with close contact to the surrounding forest. The cottage can be moved without leaving a footprint.
The Recognition
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Trekronaa Tiny Cottage is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Trekronaa Tiny Cottage is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Trekronaa Tiny Cottage splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Interviews
Grand Interview
Your innovative approach to integrating the Trekronaa Tiny Cottage among pine trees while drawing inspiration from pine cones creates a unique architectural narrative - could you elaborate on how this childhood-inspired vision evolved into the final structural design?
The journey of designing Trekronaa Tiny Cottage began with my childhood love for creating and playing with multipurpose cardboard interiors. As a shy child, I found solace in transforming simple materials into imaginative spaces, which sparked my enduring passion for design. This early creativity laid the foundation for my approach to Trekronaa.Drawing inspiration from pine cones, I envisioned a structure that mirrors their intricate patterns and natural form. Pine cones symbolize resilience and growth, qualities I wanted to embody in the cottage. Integrating Trekronaa among pine trees was essential to create a harmonious relationship between the built environment and nature. I aimed for the cottage to feel like an extension of the forest, blending seamlessly with its surroundings.The design process involved extensive research and experimentation with natural materials, primarily wood, to maintain authenticity and sustainability. I focused on creating a space that is both functional and inviting, with tactile elements that encourage a connection to the environment. The final structure features organic shapes and textures inspired by pine cones, allowing the cottage to capture light and shadow in captivating ways throughout the day.By honoring my childhood-inspired vision, Trekronaa Tiny Cottage stands as a testament to the beauty of simplicity and the importance of creating spaces that resonate with both the inhabitants and the natural world around them.
The Trekronaa Tiny Cottage achieves remarkable efficiency within just 15 square meters - what were the key design principles and spatial solutions that enabled you to incorporate all essential functions without compromising the aesthetic experience?
Designing the Trekronaa Tiny Cottage within 15 square meters involved maximizing vertical space and using smart furniture solutions. I incorporated a large bunk bed to take advantage of the room’s height, with an extra bed tucked underneath to provide additional sleeping space. By using fewer materials and choosing vinyl flooring alongside oak veneer for the walls and ceiling, I created a cohesive and holistic environment. The bathroom continues this continuity with vinyl walls matching the floors. Organic shapes and smaller furniture pieces help the space feel seamless and more spacious, while carefully selected appliances ensure functionality without clutter. These design principles and spatial solutions allowed me to incorporate all essential functions without compromising the cottage’s aesthetic appeal.
The steel frame and three-legged foundation of the Trekronaa Tiny Cottage creates an illusion of floating in the forest - how did this structural choice influence both the technical requirements and the overall sensory experience you wanted to create?
Technically, the steel frame provides the necessary strength and durability to support the building, ensuring it remains stable in various weather conditions. The three-legged foundation adds flexibility, allowing the cottage to gently move with the natural shifts and movements of the environment. This flexibility not only maintains structural integrity but also enhances the sensory experience for those inside.Many people find the subtle movement fascinating, as it fosters a deeper connection with the surrounding nature. The floating effect makes the cottage feel integrated and harmonious with the forest, offering a unique and immersive living experience. By combining robust engineering with thoughtful design, the Trekronaa Tiny Cottage achieves both technical excellence and a captivating aesthetic that resonates with its natural setting.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The visitors coming to trekronaa can lie down under the duvet while viewing the pine forest and starry sky - and wake up to the chirping of birds, the stream that trickles and the sun that shine through the trees. A place where you can get a piece of your life back.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The cabins are 15 square meters big, with a small bathroom, kitchen and sleeps 4-5 people.
- Tags
- treehouses, micro house, micro cabin, hut, tree hut, small living, compact living
- Production Technology
- The treehouses are built on a steel frame, with 3 steel legs on concrete, leaving them hardly interfering with nature.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part of the design process was to fit a bathroom, kitchen, dining table, bench and beds for 4-5 people, and using the space in a most efficient way. Another challenge was the placement of electricity and water, with lays in the ramp. For the carpenter, one of the biggest challenges was all of the angles, especially on the bottom of the cabin.
- Research
- The architect and client had studied some similar treehouse-projects before starting on the Trekronaa. Still, this project would be inspired by its own concept, looking to fulfill the needs visitors would have or apprectiate on a visit like this. The pinecone was an early object that inspired the architect, in addition to the urge of designing playful childhood treehouses.
- Inspiration
- The pine cone was part of the inspiration for me as the architect. Also I wanted to build on my childhood dream of carpentry wooden cabins in the woods. I wanted to take it a step further - namely mixing comfort with nostalgia and closeness to nature.
- Project Duration
- The project started with a site visit in November 2020, and was completed dec 2021. It is situated in Ogna, Norway.
- Operation Flow
- The cabin can be moved without leaving a footprint. It is built with a wooden frame on top of a steel frame, and cladded with accoya. The steel legs make it look like it floats in the air. A ramp leads to the cabin entrance, which feels safe for visitors compared to other possible ways to enter the cabin. Staying in the cabin can be compared to a hotel experience, the difference is the direct contact to the forest and the surrounding nature.
- Team Members
- Manuela Hardy, architect
- Image Credits
- Damir Fattakhov
Manuela Hardy
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