This Nordic Hotel’s Architecture Blends Beautifully into the Organic Snow-Capped Mountain Slopes

Combining luxurious architecture and natural camouflage together, Mertcan Güldilek’s Nordic Breeze hotel is easy to miss when viewed from above. As you descend into the valley, however, the gorgeous hotel becomes more apparent with its unique blend of the snow-white facade and wrap-around glass. Created using AI, Güldilek’s architectural concept shows how organic design can blend beautifully into a landscape, complementing it rather than contrasting it.

Designer: Mertcan Güldilek

The AI experimentations take on a rather organic design reminiscent of Ross Lovegrove’s work. The hotel’s facade is difficult to really describe as it flows quite like the mountain slope. In the negative areas created by the facade, Güldilek adds running edge-to-edge windows that help residents/patrons get a sprawling panoramic view of the landscape ahead of them.

“The hotel emerges in the heart of the Swedish valley, inviting guests to a refuge that seamlessly blends with its breathtaking surroundings,” says Güldilek. “The organic approach to design ensures that the hotel becomes an extension of the surrounding nature, creating a sense of unity that calms and inspires.”

Envisioned for Storglaciären, Sweden, these hotels are located in the valleys of a snowcapped mountain range, alongside a glacial river that adds to the hotel’s charm. Multiple iterations of the hotel’s design see it nestled on top of the glacial river, giving patrons a stunning shimmering view of the snowcapped landscape along with its reflection. Sunrises and sunsets would look amazing here for 6 months in the year!

“As the sun descends, casting its golden rays across the land, the hotel radiates a warm and inviting aura that draws guests in,” adds Güldilek. “The golden hour lighting envelops the building, illuminating every detail and infusing the surroundings with a magical quality.”

Different iterations also play with volumes, adding multiple wings and levels to the architecture for a dynamic appeal. Each hotel room therefore has a unique view of what’s around them, creating a bespoke experience for everyone who comes to visit the conceptual Nordic Breeze hotel!

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This tranquil retreat in rural Canada harmoniously merges Nordic + Japanese influences

Tucked away in Canada’s Kawartha Lakes region is a beautiful and rather cozy retreat called the ‘Nortehaus’. At a comfortable distance from the city, the getaway was designed by MAFCOhouse to serve as a tranquil grounding space where guests and residents can experience some much-needed zen and joy. The retreat is completely enthralled by nature, and harmoniously integrates elements of sustainability, minimalism, and simplicity.

Designer: MAFCOhouse

The home is heavily inspired by Nordic and Japanese influences, and in fact, even goes so far as to incorporate the popular Danish concept of ‘hygge’, which translates to a feeling of complete coziness, peace, and wellness. The name of the ‘hygge’ home was coined by merging the Spanish word ‘norte’ (north), and the German word ‘haus’ (house), subtly nodding to the home’s multicultural owners. The home was built for a small family of three, who wished for a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. “Being a hideaway is an integral part of the nortehaus concept and so the exact location will be shared with you once you complete your booking,” said the owners.

The retreat can house up to four guests. It consists of two bedrooms and two bathrooms which are defined by tactile textural materials that add a rather natural and minimalistic feel to the space. Wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows provide stunning views of the surroundings, allowing the nature around the lodging to become the center of attention. The living room has been equipped with a fireplace, allowing guests to cozy up next to it and enjoy the warmth. The outdoor patio is a great spot to enjoy views of the forest and the river. “The primary bedroom features a queen-size 12-inch memory foam mattress, a large bathtub, and a beautiful ensuite bathroom, and of course, the view speaks for itself. Go to sleep and wake up surrounded by nature,” the family added.

“All elements throughout ‘nortehaus’ were selected with an appreciation for high-end materials. Steps from the coziness of the indoors is a short walk down to the riverfront where our guests can go for a lazy swim in the summertime or a cold plunge in the cooler months,” the owners concluded. The living, dining, and kitchen areas form an open, expansive, and spacious layout that beautifully integrates with nature. A second bedroom is included in this space, with a 12-inch memory foam mattress and an ensuite bathroom with a shower.

The post This tranquil retreat in rural Canada harmoniously merges Nordic + Japanese influences first appeared on Yanko Design.

This idyllic cabin on a Swedish island perfectly represents minimalist Nordic architecture

Nestled in the beautiful wooded region of Lilla Kilskäret, an island of the Swedish archipelago near Stockholm is a minimalist Nordic cabin called ‘A House’. Designed by emerging Studio Nāv, the idyllic cabin was designed for a young couple as a cozy summer home to escape to during the warm season.

Designer: Studio Nāv

‘A House’ beautifully captures minimalist Nordic architecture, and its picturesque surroundings help to create a space that is truly calming and peaceful. However, despite its pristine and awe-spiring location, building the home wasn’t simple child’s play. The site and local building regulations were quite challenging, and hence the home needed to occupy a tiny footprint, and perfectly blend in with its surroundings. In a quest to do so, the interiors of the home were made to be open, free-flowing, and extremely flexible.

The interiors are marked by a single open room, encapsulated in shrouds of glass, allowing the home to harmoniously merge with its surrounding landscape, and creating the sensation of being at one with it. This space includes the living area and the bedroom. The home was constructed using a glulam framework, making the process a swift and efficient one, while the generous use of timber in its exterior and interior symbolizes the architect’s attempt to utilize organic materials that complement the home’s surroundings.

The home features three translucent glass sides, which can be opened, allowing the interiors of the home, and the surroundings to unite, creating a beautiful indoor-outdoor connection. However, the architects also wanted to ensure that the residents are provided with a sense of privacy, and do feel safe and comfortable in their cabin. To do so, a massive drapery was included in the home. The drapery is as long as the three glass sides and can cover the facades, adding an element of privacy to the home. A black detachable mesh was also added to the exterior of the home, concealing the home from the water.

The post This idyllic cabin on a Swedish island perfectly represents minimalist Nordic architecture first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google open-sources the tools needed to make 2FA security keys

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Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden

Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden

Thanks to a rapid pace of one country per day Netflix has made light work of its Nordic roll out. The internet movie service is launching its final Scandinavian flag today in Finland after starting Monday in Sweden, then notching Denmark and Norway (pictured above) in between. As with the others there's extensive device and app support from the start, and although the content selection may vary Netflix is the exclusive streaming home of Iron Sky, for all your Nazis-on-the-moon viewing needs. Not enough? Hey, there's always HBO Nordic, and you don't even need cable or satellite to get it.

Continue reading Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden

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Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden

Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden

Thanks to a rapid pace of one country per day Netflix has made light work of its Nordic roll out. The internet movie service is launching its final Scandinavian flag today in Finland after starting Monday in Sweden, then notching Denmark and Norway (pictured above) in between. As with the others there's extensive device and app support from the start, and although the content selection may vary Netflix is the exclusive streaming home of Iron Sky, for all your Nazis-on-the-moon viewing needs. Not enough? Hey, there's always HBO Nordic, and you don't even need cable or satellite to get it.

Continue reading Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden

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Netflix Watch Instantly is live in Finland, completes Nordic sweep with Norway, Denmark and Sweden originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix streaming launches in Sweden, lets you get your Bron on

Netflix streaming launches in Sweden

Sweden is home to some of the world's better known movie makers and some very high speed data connections, but it has only had so much love from movie streaming services that you'd think would be a natural match. Netflix is making that union a reality today through the launch of its Watch Instantly service in the country. Pay 79 kronor ($12) a month and you'll get access to a mix of both international and domestic movies and TV shows on any device that can take Netflix in the country, which includes at least computers as well as Android and iOS devices. Other Nordic territories are still promised as coming soon; although that won't be much help to Danes, Finns or Norwegians, we're sure Swedes won't mind having one more excuse to flaunt their cheap fiber internet access.

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Netflix streaming launches in Sweden, lets you get your Bron on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nordic retailers list a Galaxy S III ‘Mini,’ insider info or wishful thinking?

Nordic retailers list a Galaxy S III Mini, insider info or wishful thinking

While it's not as complex as one of the region's twisty crime dramas, the story surrounding the Galaxy S III Mini has taken another turn. Retailers in Europe's northernmost countries are now listing such a device with the codename GT-I8190 in blue and white, with or without an NFC chip, for $540 and $560, respectively. Given that the company is planning an announcement about a "little sensation" on Thursday, it's certainly less likely that we'll see the Galaxy Ace III turn up.

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Nordic retailers list a Galaxy S III 'Mini,' insider info or wishful thinking? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HBO Nordic to offer internet streaming subscriptions, no cable or satellite service required

While in the US, requests for an HBO Go subscription option that brings the channel's programming without being tethered to a cable or satellite-TV package go unheeded, HBO revealed today that its Scandinavian offering will do just that. While the HBO Nordic joint venture between HBO and Parsifal International will be available over "local distribution partners," it is also available strictly as an over-the-top service for VOD and subscription access to premium content for less than €10 when it launches in October. It brings all the HBO current and catalog content you'd expect (subtitled for the local markets in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark) and it's also tossing in content from other providers, like the popular Canadian show Continuum. CEO Hervé Payan says it will be available on "any" internet connected device, and says the decision to go over the top is because its target group of viewer have changed their consumption to multiple screens.

Netflix revealed its own plans to expand to the region this fall on the same day HBO Nordic was originally announced, and CEO Reed Hastings welcomed the competition with a message on Facebook asking when HBO would bring the service to the USA, and joking that it expected the first match-up to be in Albania. In case you forgot, that last dig was a reference to Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes 2010 statement comparing Netflix to the possibility of the Albanian army taking over the world. The battle is on this fall, we'll see if it's just a dry run for other regions soon.

Continue reading HBO Nordic to offer internet streaming subscriptions, no cable or satellite service required

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HBO Nordic to offer internet streaming subscriptions, no cable or satellite service required originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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