or going to the birds
Can you picture a modern hotel room suspended several meters above your head cloistered within a forest? There is one such place in Sweden called the Tree Hotel where travelers who are fed up with city buildings and acres of concrete can find an escape. This innovative windowed room serves as an outlet for both wildlife and humans.
The mentioned room is known as the “Biosphere” and contains 340 birdhouses enveloping the outside exterior. A Danish architectural studio, aptly named Big (possibly for the big idea that created this concept) is responsible for this wonder. The Tree Hotel is located in a remote forest in the Swedish Lapland. This area of Sweden is known as the land of the midnight sun and Northern Lights. In the Lapland, there are many different and interesting topographies. This area is home to a myriad of mountains, forests, marshes, wild rivers, and archipelagos.
The aim of such an innovative room is to motivate visitors to install birdhouses in their own homes. This serves as wonderful encouragement at a time when bird populations are experiencing a decline. I first realized the plight of birds while reading an emotional poem, the type of literature that makes you immeasurably sad and cognizant at the same time, “I don’t want to look up and see a silent sky…” Wild birds suffer greatly as the climate continues its dramatic spiral downward. This situation, along with pesticides, pollination, and seed dispersal is causing disruption in the ecosystem. Domestic and feral cats have also taken a toll on backyard populations.
The Biosphere room is reached by a suspended bridge that slopes from the ground to the top of the trees. The interior décor utilizes rich, dark interiors and also organic materials inspired by the forest landscape. Inside the comfort of this unique room, a visitor can not only focus on the abundant beauty of the surroundings but also come to appreciate the everyday life of the avian species.
The offerings of the Tree Hotel do not stop there, guests can take it one step further and stay in a bird’s nest that their website touts as a room to bask in introspection. These two rooms are no doubt a big draw for bird aficionados tucked into the forest of the Swedish Lapland where a visitor might indeed see more reindeer and huskies than other humans.
In addition to the bird-inspired rooms, guests can also pick from other unique rooms including Mirrorcube, a suspended cabin; a large room called the 7th Room which is described as a room of different ‘experience levels’; The UFO, Dragonfly Room, The Blue Cone, and finally The Guesthouse. I’m ready to book my own ticket for a return to nature!
On a smaller scale, my aunt used to have one of those bird feeders that stuck onto the outside of the window where she and her cat, Dexter, could sit and watch the birds eat. So an entire room dedicated to the observation of these feathery creatures seems like it would be rather popular. And who knows how long we have until we see how big the problem of bird population decline will play out? How long until the skies do grow silent and the realization of the demise of yet another species comes home to roost?
Glad to see you back, Lana. I read a book recently about climate change and how it is affecting populations of all kinds of creatures. Extinction is a real danger for many species. I love birds and we have several feeders. Certain bird calls take me back to my childhood, like mourning doves calling at the window of Grandma’s guest bedroom in the cool early hours of a summer day. Hope all is well with you. I’ve been posting this month for an NPM challenge (after a long hiatus) and hope you’ll peruse my site if you have time.
Climate change is such a sorrowful problem. I have a few bird feeders and really love the cardinals. Likewise, so good to hear from you! I will definitely stop by your site. Thanks Joan!