Think of a hospital, and you’re likely conjuring an image of stark white halls with bright fluorescent lighting. Aesthetically, hospitals often leave a lot to be desired. But firm Snøhetta is helping to change the status quo, building natural retreats for patients and their guests within walking distance of two of Norway’s largest hospitals: Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand on the southern coast and Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, in the capital city. The Friluftssykehuset, or Outdoor Care Retreat, serves as a respite from daily hospital life, giving patients and their family and friends a psychological and physical break. “The project was inspired by the work of child psychologist Maren Østvold Lindheim at the Oslo University Hospital, who has been doing research on how children respond to treatment in a hospital setting,” Snøhetta senior architect Marianne Sætre tells AD . “Many kids are deeply traumatized by the hospital experience, when they are sick themselves or when visiting their ill parents.”

Oak walls and flooring bring nature into the cabins.

The two retreats, inspired by tree houses that Norwegian children often build, are both set within forests just outside the hospitals. “The healing benefits of nature inspired us to create a tranquil space that can make a positive difference in people’s lives,” Sætre says. Though patients might not be able to spend an extended amount of time outdoors, a stay in one of these structures offers them a chance to experience it for a short while. Because all the windows open fully, guests inside the cabin can take in fresh air, smell the trees, and hear birds chirping. “We wanted the interiors to feel like a natural extension of the outside nature,” says Sætre. “The inside of the cabins actually smells like wood, and you can lie down on pillows on the floor and look up at the trees through the skylight.”

Movable pillows create a fun environment for children.

Each structure comprises a main room filled with movable pillows, a side room where treatments can take place, and a bathroom. “We wanted to create a healing space that was not too large and not too small, with materials that are robust enough to welcome a variety of patients with different needs,” says Snøhetta architect Nicolai Ramm Østgaard. The cabins are fully accessible and can accommodate everything from wheelchairs to hospital beds, allowing a wide range of patients to be able to use the space.

The second of two Outdoor Care Retreats.

“We hope that this new type of architecture becomes an important supplement to the typically institutional hospital spaces,” says Sætre. “By offering a natural retreat like this, patients can enjoy time with their friends in surroundings that make them feel as if they are on a holiday. They can create memories related to their hospitalization that are positive and calming, which might help them look back at their hospital stay with less trauma.”