Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Illusion Villa SynVillan by Sandellsandberg

Illusion Villa SynVillan by Sandellsandberg

Elevated on stilts, the Illusion Villa by Sandellsandberg provides a bird’s-eye view of flora and fauna in Eriksberg Wildlife Park.

If you’re itching to immerse yourself in nature but would prefer to bypass the tent or trailer option, the newly completed Illusion Villa (also known as SynVillan) may be of interest. Crafted by Stockholm–based design firm Sandellsandberg, the elevated hotel is located in Blekinge County, Sweden, in Eriksberg Wildlife Park-one of Northern Europe’s largest nature reserves.



Completed in 2020, the Illusion Villa is perched in the Eriksberg Wildlife Park. It offers visitors the opportunity to go off grid and reconnect with nature.

Capped with a straw roof, the 530-square-foot structure draws inspiration from the region’s traditional residential architecture. "The design merges the past and the future, with its thatched roof-which was commonly used in Blekinge-and its modern, polished stainless-steel facade," says Thomas Sandell, architect and cofounder of the firm. By cloaking the building in reflective siding, the team aimed to create the illusion of a building dissolving into nature.



The mirrored villa rests on 43-foot-high pillars and is accessed via a long wooden staircase.



A glazed floor panel in the living room allows visitors to observe free-roaming animals—including European bison, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and boar.

To enhance visitors’ connection with nature, the team designed the cabin to hover above a place where animals often come to graze. "We wanted to make it possible for guests to come really close to the wild game without disturbing them. With the glass floor, you can watch animals eat while you comfortably sit on the sofa, sipping a glass of wine," Sandell adds.



A small wood-burning stove enhances the cabin’s cozy atmosphere, while the rainbow-colored ceiling helps create a whimsical setting in the middle of nature.

In addition to the glazed flooring, the two-room unit features a sleeping area, kitchenette, and furnished terrace. A vibrant, multicolored ceiling adds playful pizzazz to the otherwise neutral interior palette.



The cabin can comfortably accommodate four adults. A set of bunk beds are positioned on one side of a wall that separates the living room and sleeping quarters.

"The building is extremely sturdy in its construction-an absolute necessity, as the winds at times can be very strong," Sandell explains. "Also, as many animals scratch their backs on trees, the pillars must, of course, be able to withstand a bison with an itch."



A large picture window near the bed captures mesmerizing views of the surrounding reserve.



A closer look at the retreat’s reflective, polished steel exterior-and the living room’s transparent floor.



"At Eriksberg, biological diversity is preserved and developed, which makes the park one of the most interesting places in Scandinavia," notes the firm. "The unit is located high over a feeding station, which creates a feeling of floating above the ground."



A view of the back of the structure, highlighting both the long entry staircase and solar panels on the straw roof.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
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
×