Two matching elevated cabins have been nestled into a woodland by Snøhetta, to improve the treatment of patients at two of Norway's largest hospitals by immersing them in nature.
Commissioned by Friluftssykehuset Foundation, the Outdoor Care Retreats offer "physical and psychological respite" for patients, and are designed by Snøhetta to contrast with the two hospitals.
The first cabin is situated one hundred metres from the entrance of the capital's Oslo University Hospital, while the other is in south Norway by the Sørlandet Hospital in Kristiansand.

"Only a short walking distance from two of Norway's largest hospitals, the secluded wooden shelters are designed to make hospitalisation easier for patients and their families", explained the Oslo- and New York-based architecture studio. "The space can be used for treatment and contemplation, and for spending time with relatives and friends away from the hospital corridors. The cabins are open to every patient connected to the hospitals regardless of disease group."

The angular forms of Outdoor Care Retreats were modelled on the "playful construction of wooden tree cabins typically made by children".
Elevated off the ground, both 35-square-metre cabins are made from skewed blocks of wood that will turn grey over time, helping them blend in with their surroundings.

They each have a main room, a smaller side room for conversation and treatment, and a bathroom. They are accessed...