The Bolder – a unique place to stay high above a Norwegian fjord

Every now and then images of a project which takes my breath away land in my inbox, and I get so excited that I end up rejigging my blog schedule so that I can share them as soon as possible. This is one such example. Perched high above Lysefjord in southwestern Norway and close to Pulpit Rock (made famous by Tom Cruise, who dangled from it in Mission Impossible 6), it’s called The Bolder and consists of two one-legged cabins that are available to rent for short breaks. It looks like a truly spectacular place to stay, and it’s certainly got me itching to travel internationally again.

The project is the brainchild of Tom Norland, who purchased the 170-hectare site in 2010. His original plan was to build a series of smaller huts, but he soon realised that the stunning views deserved something extra-special. He therefore commissioned architect John Birger Grytdal of Norgeshus to design a unique hideaway, with a brief to blur the boundaries between inside and outside and create ‘the feeling of floating in nature’.

The result is stunning: a pair of cedar-clad cubes, each balancing on a single steel pillar to minimise their environmental footprint, with floor-to-ceiling glass looking out over the fjord. Grytdal intentionally placed them on the edge of the slope to enhance the sense of being suspended in the air and likens it to “standing in a glass elevator, with that familiar sinking feeling”.

Inside, each lodge has 22sq.m of living space spread over two floors, encompassing a kitchen, a dining area, two double bedrooms and a bathroom. The interior design is the work of Element Studio, who used a palette of dark, nature-inspired colours and materials that both emphasises the panoramic vistas and echoes the glacial boulders and dense pine forests of the surrounding landscape. The ceilings and walls are covered in smoked oak, while the floor is made of polished concrete; there’s also deep brown leather upholstery, angular steel and mottled stone.

Most of the fittings, furniture and accessories come from Danish brand VIPP, and their sleek lines contrast beautifully with the rugged scenery outside. These include the black-fronted, steel-topped kitchen units, which look custom-built for the space but which actually come from VIPP’s standard modular range, and the functional yet elegant lamps with their perforated shades and soft glow.

The star corner of each cabin is the dining area, where you could happily linger for hours in comfy leather-cushioned chairs (again by VIPP). There are also ‘Jetson’ easy chairs – an iconic design created by Bruno Mathsson back in 1969 and available from Swedish brand Dux – and deep windowsills that double as side tables to maximise the compact space.

Accessed via metal and wood staircases, the main bedrooms sit immediately above the dining areas and share the same outlook. I love the way the blue bedding reflects the water and sky outside, and I should imagine it feels a little like sleeping among the clouds. The second bedrooms are hidden at the back of the cabins and resemble cosy cocoons, with glimpses of snow-dusted mountaintops visible through the high-level windows.

It’s perhaps no surprise that The Bolder was named Norway’s ‘Cabin of the Year’ in 2020, and I for one am already dreaming about a stay. My husband, who hates heights, isn’t quite so keen, but I’m determined to convince him! And, with four more lodges and a restaurant designed by renowned architecture practice Snøhetta also planned for the site, it sounds like there could soon be even more reason to visit.

Find out more about The Bolder and book a stay here. Rates start at NOK 3,700 (around £310 / €360) per night, based on two people sharing.  

All photography courtesy of VIPP and The Bolder