Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

A Pair of Pine Cone–Shaped Tree Houses Overlook a Grand Fjord in Norway

A Pair of Pine Cone–Shaped Tree Houses Overlook a Grand Fjord in Norway

Two rentable dwellings suspended from living trees bring a couple’s dream to life.

For Sally Aano and her husband, Kjartan (pronounced "shark-ton"), the dream to build a tree house began when they first met at a mutual friend’s wedding. Sally, originally from Australia, and Kjartan, a native Norwegian, both romanticized what they see as the quintessential design: a simple structure wrapped around a single tree trunk.

When Kjartan later hand built a tree house and proposed to Sally inside it, she knew she’d found her guy-and the two resolved then and there to one day build a treetop escape that others could enjoy as well. Years later, their vision is now a reality thanks to Stavanger, Norway–based, Helen & Hard Architects. The team just completed a pair of luxurious tree houses that stubbornly (and ingeniously) stick to the couple’s ideals.



Perched along a forested hillside above Odda, Norway, each Woodnest tree house wraps around the trunk of a living pine tree. The serene location is a 15- to 30-minute hike up the mountain from a residential street below.



Offering far-reaching views of Norway’s Hardangerfjord, each tree house employs clever solutions to provide a private bathroom and kitchenette inside. The structures are engineered to be supported by a central steel collar that wraps around the tree trunk.

"We want others to feel the same joy we felt," Sally says, referring to their original tree house, which the local municipality later required them to tear down. "For us, the place held so much romance as a work of dedication-somewhere we could spontaneously escape, relax, and be with each other in nature."

But the process of designing and building new tree houses for guests wasn’t easy. Beginning when they found the land in 2017, the three-year-long process hinged on finding the right architects and overcoming key design challenges. "From the very beginning, we said we didn’t want to use stilts or posts for support-we wanted an authentic tree house," Sally explains.

"Staying loyal to our idea was annoying at times, especially when it seemed the team was constantly needing to overcome obstacles," she adds. "Luckily, we found architects who were up for the challenge." After many variations on the design, Helen & Hard eventually landed on a pine cone–shaped structure that appears to hover a few feet above the forest floor.



Sally Aano next to one of the two recently completed tree houses.



A timber bridge provides access to each tree house from the ground below.



Inside, wraparound windows provide panoramic views of the fjord and mountains.

The firm’s website describes the final design as "inspired by the Norwegian cultural traditions of vernacular timber architecture and a desire to experiment with the material potential of wood." The structure utilizes a central steel collar that wraps around the tree, and a series of glue-laminated timber ribs extend outward in a radial design.

The exterior is clad in natural timber shingles that "will weather over time to merge and blend with the natural patina of the surrounding forest," the firm notes. Adding to the organic aesthetic, the interior walls and ceiling are finished in black alder wood.



The interior also features numerous local touches, including a pair of oak Krysset chairs in natural leather by the Norwegian furniture company Eikund.



A built-in couch provides an additional perch to enjoy the surroundings.



Along the rear wall, a sunken double bed fills the corner, surrounded by custom shelving and wood paneling. Hidden single beds provide additional sleeping space for up to four adults total.



On the opposite side of the tree house, a small kitchenette comes complete with a sink, an induction hot plate, and a small fridge underneath. Other additions include fresh flowers from local florist Stilk & Stæsj, as well as soap from the Norwegian brand Fitjar Islands.

Once construction kicked off in January 2020, the site’s remote location created unique challenges for everyday work and material delivery. "This past winter was long, with a lot of rain and some really cold days," comments Sally. While helicopters dropped off most of the larger items, including building materials and power tools, other items were carried up by hand. "It worked out to be countless steps but great exercise," she adds.



A wood-clad ceiling emphasizes each structure’s radial frame, while the central steel collars are concealed by vertical strips of wood.



A hallway provides access to the bathroom (along the left-hand side), as well as the main entrance straight ahead.

Sally and Kjartan, who is an electrician by trade, did much of the finishing work themselves-along with the help of numerous friends and family members.

"It really has been a family affair," says Sally. "The sofa cushions were made by Kjartan’s mother, a seamstress, while his father and brother spent many days helping us out with various projects. His sisters helped with painting, his brothers-in-law built the staircases, and his nephews cut up trees. We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help."



The bottom of each tree house hides the utilities, including pipes concealed underneath the entry bridge that connect to public water and sewage lines at the bottom of the hill. The pipes are encased and heated to prevent freezing during cold Norwegian winters.



The architects and engineers enlisted the help of a tree doctor to identify a design that wouldn’t compromise the health of each tree. As a solution, the steel ring surrounding the trunks includes enough space for each tree to naturally grow in diameter for at least 25 years.



A few yards away from the tree houses, a wooden staircase connects with a path that leads through the wooded hillside to a parking area down below. Steeper sections of the mountainside trail are navigable by using steel staircases and hand-placed stone steps.

Building on years of experience renting out their backyard studio and basement apartment on Airbnb, Sally and Kjartan officially opened the doors to Woodnest a few weeks ago. "As an Australian living in Norway, I’ve always had fun meeting tourists from around the world," Sally says. "Our sleepy little town of 5,000 attracts much larger crowds during the summer."

Part of the attraction is the world-famous Trolltunga hike, just a 30-minute drive away, as well as the area’s easy access from Stavanger and Bergen, two cities on Norway’s western coast.

"We want guests to take their time, reconnect with one another, and look out the windows to the panoramic views," says Sally. "The journey up to the tree houses requires a little effort, but once you arrive, you’ve earned the right to fully relax."

While travel bans associated with COVID-19 have made the timing of their opening more precarious than expected, the couple look forward to welcoming international travelers in the future. Prices start at 2,800 NOK (approximately $300) per night for up to four people, not including an optional breakfast, and reservations can be made via their website.



A site plan shows the location of each tree house above the town of Odda, Norway.



Woodnest structural rendering



Woodnest structural rendering



A cross section shows the solution for a raised bed and built-in seating. Both tree houses are identical in layout and design.



A floor plan shows the bathroom-complete with shower, sink, and flushing toilet-tucked into a corner near the entry.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×