INSPIRATION
SLEEP UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN A MINI GLASS HOME IN ICELAND
D Iceland is a small house designed as a hotel for adventurous travelers and nature lovers.
It all started when the Estonian brothers Andreas and Jaak Tiik wanted to spend a weekend away from their city. They were looking for an edgy but cozy home in a remote location in nature for a hiking trip.
As they could not find a lodging to their liking, they came up with the idea of creating the concept of ÖÖD , a house with a simple, elegant and bold design.
ÖÖD is a small house that has been designed and developed as a hotel , it is designed to be used throughout the year in hot and cold climates, whether on the beach with intense sun or in the mountains with heavy snowfall.
Its 18-square-meter steel structure , the attractive mirror-glass or transparent glass façade and the use of top-quality materials were designed to withstand inclement weather. The house is easily movable and relocatable , and can be shipped assembled or flat packed, making the ÖÖD cottages suddenly sprout up in a natural setting.
Since February 2020, it is possible to book a stay in the glass houses produced by ÖÖD for Panorama Glass Lodge, Iceland , and immerse yourself in the incredible experience of falling asleep under the Northern Lights or a spectacular starry sky .
ÖÖD Iceland has been created with the incredible surrounding landscapes in mind. The clear glass (which is unusual for these buildable houses as they are usually mirrored) creates a perfect blend with Icelandic nature, letting in so much beauty that it is overwhelming. The apocalyptic scenery offered by the local landscape in the vicinity of the Hekla volcano , add to this dreamlike panorama.
ÖÖD Iceland manifests Nordic minimalism in its purest form. Long winters and limited light have been the inspiration for this world-acclaimed design style for decades. Guided by this, the people of Northern Europe – who experience dark, cold winters and bright summers – have developed admirable architecture that has been shaped by the challenges posed by such natural conditions.
A clear example of hygge design are the ÖÖD houses, bright and comfortable, with large windows and elements of nature brought inside. Likewise, wood adds to the homely feel of the style, as do the roof windows, which are made of “hot glass” to defrost snow and ice and increase thermal comfort.
The initial idea was to create a distinctly Nordic interior design that had a vintage or even Viking touch. The Scandinavian feel has been achieved through small elements such as the lamp in the living room, as well as the impressive Viking horns on the ceilings. The kitchen table and the bed add to the vintage objects of the house. All elements are customized and manufactured by small design companies in Europe.
One of the most striking elements of the interior is the hexagonal tiles on the walls and floors. The job was challenging and difficult to implement as each tile is hand cut into the wood.
Not hiding tools and utensils in the kitchen and living room was a deliberate decision. When you’re living in a small space, it can be tempting to design closed cabinets, throw everything in, and close the door. But imagine how cold and flat this mini space would be if the plates, pots, knives, frames, etc. they were hidden behind cabinets. Instead, everything is in view, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a home and less like a storage unit.
The glass creates the illusion that the home merges with the surroundings and causes amazement to those who admire it. Who would refuse to spend a night in a glass house, in the middle of nature and under the northern lights?