Watch the Northern Lights From Bed at Lapland's Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

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32 elevated cabins create a peaceful retreat in the subarctic north of Finland... on the grounds of the world's top Christmas-themed amusement park


Published: 12-15-2021

About the author

Ellen Eberhardt
Ellen Eberhardt
Ellen is an New York City-based writer, designer, former architectural worker bee, and current reporter for Dezeen.

In Finland’s northernmost territory exists a remote region called Lapland, where reindeer outnumber people, northern lights dazzle, and the midnight sun never sets in summer. The vast subarctic wilderness is bordered by Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the Baltic Sea, and home to the indigenous Sami people. Not quite the North Pole, but close enough.

As there, just outside Lapland's capital of Rovaniemi, exists a place called SantaPark-the Home Cavern of Santa Claus. An indoor amusement park voted "the top Christmas destination in the world," where visitors can attend Elf School, visit Santa's Office, explore an Ice Gallery, and even cross the Arctic Circle underground, among other Yuletide attractions.

The Nordic wonderland also happens to feature the recently opened Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, a campus of 32 stilt-legged prefab cabins inspired by the surrounding scenery and the mysticism of SantaPark itself. According to the project's designer, Studio Puisto, the shingled cabins resemble a herd of pine cone cows, a traditional Finnish toy made of a pine cone body and stick legs. Peacefully grazing on a steep hillside, the larger-than-life herd happens to have a straight-shot view of the aurora borealis.

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Photograph by Marc Goodwin

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Photograph by Antti Kurola

Like a Finnish Piaule, the landscape hotel's 32 cabins float gently above the ground on pillars to minimize their environmental impact below. Green roofs help mitigate water runoff and replace the building's footprint in vegetation above. Their shingled exteriors are made of sustainable Finnish wood, while inside, light finishes create a bright, Arctic experience.

Inspired by the comfort of a nest, the Nordic interior is decked out in furs and plush linens in neutral grays and whites, reflecting the snow-covered ground outside.

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Photograph by Marc Goodwin

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Photograph by Marc Goodwin

The cabins vary in layout. Some house a kitchenette, while others just a sleeping area and bathroom. Conveniently, some cabin sets can be paired to form a family suite, which is rearranged to provide a living space or additional beds. In some, a wood-paneled crawlspace hides a small bed, perfect for little guests.

The pièce de résistance is, though, is the floor-to-ceiling window on the northern wall, which looks out over the fascinating lights of Lapland, northern lights and midnight sun included.

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Photograph by Marc Goodwin

Although an indulgent cabin hotel isn't exactly the first accommodation you'd expect at a Christmas-themed amusement park (or is it?), this is Finland after all, birth place of some of the modern world's most influential designers. The Arctic TreeHouse Hotel has already earned an impressive line-up of travel awards for its remote luxury, not to mention high profile guests likes of the Kardashians. And while a visit may cost a pretty penny ($635/night), this is one experience that will be tough to forget.

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Photograph by Marc Goodwin

For more unforgettable treehouse rentals, check out the 20 Best Treehouse Rentals from Around America.