Jonathan Morrison
Mirrored hideaways in which you can become at one with nature
Hidden deep in forests, atop outcrops and overlooking the sea, these retreats are windows to the natural world.
Given that more than half the country is covered with forest, perhaps it’s no surprise that Estonians love to spend time in nature. Hiking and camping are favourite pastimes in the small Baltic nation — but that doesn’t necessarily mean slumming it under a damp triangle of canvas. Indeed, alongside their enthusiasm for blood sausage and success in the unusual Nordic sport of wife-carrying, Estonians are world leaders in the production of ultra-luxurious cabins — all the better to enjoy the silence of being surrounded by miles of pines, birches and spruces without worrying about a bit of drizzle.
The latest such creation is the ÖÖD (meaning “sleep well”), whose Scandinavian-style interior of blond wood, black steel frames and minimalist furnishings is concealed behind a reflective glass façade.
ÖÖD house and sauna in the forest near Rooslepa, Estonia (Oliver Soostar)
This polished outer case is a giant one-way mirror that dissolves the boundary between inside and out, immersing visitors in the natural world while reflecting the surrounding stripes of trees or scoops of meadow and blending in like a chameleon. At night the ÖÖDs glow warmly like lanterns — although, a word of caution: with the lights on inside, the mirror effect reverses and passers-by can see in. (Thankfully curtains come as standard.)
The glass houses have proved such a success in their native country — where clusters of the mirrored cabins adorn woodlands, valleys, lakes and beaches on the Gulf of Finland — that the company is branching out to locations ranging from Lapland to Texas, Africa to Arabia. It has a single requirement of the settings, which is rigorously enforced: they must be stunning. And yes, the owners check. “It’s about getting people into the most beautiful locations,” says Andreas Tiik, who founded ÖÖD with his brother, Jaak, in 2016. “Life is so fast and we are so busy, so we really need to take time to unwind and surround ourselves with nature. But of course not everyone wants to carry a tent, so we were looking for a way that people could be outdoors but in comfort. With the ÖÖD you feel like you’re outside but you’re protected from the rain and snow, heat and extreme cold. In fact, I think the best time to be in one is when the weather is not that nice — you can really enjoy a thunderstorm.”
Morke House ÖÖD by Furu, near Lillehammer in Norway (Ragnar Hartvig)
A mirrored cabin in Laheranna, Estonia (Magnus Heinmets)
The ÖÖDs are, as you would hope, super eco-friendly: as well as blending seamlessly into their surroundings they use little energy and ace all the sustainability metrics, being insulated against the cold and built to last. In the tropics and deserts, the mirrored skin minimises heat gain, reflecting 97 per cent of UV rays. It turns out the glass is greener.
When the concept was revealed on social media there were some worries about bird strikes. But those concerned about the welfare of confused wildlife can rest easy: only a very daft duck would hurtle into its own reflection when there are influencers about.
“People love putting images of the ÖÖD they’re staying in on Instagram,” Jaak says. “Dead birds would be the number one thing to spot and publish.” So far none has been seen.
Dragonflies, however, “ping into them occasionally and fly away”, Nick Verebelyi, a former industrial designer from London, says. He and his wife, Emma, installed two of the prefabricated cabins at their home, Pound Farm, near Saxmundham in Suffolk, at the end of July. It is one of two locations in England where you can experience the ÖÖD. The area is also a Woodland Trust preserve, and part of its appeal is being able to watch the local wildlife up close.
“There are deer, tawny owls and barn owls, kestrels, buzzards and lots more,” Verebelyi says. “For us it was about opening up a vista across our meadow, being able to see into the distance from inside, watching the clouds, feeling the stillness. It’s that juxtaposition of sophisticated comfort with being immersed in nature; it’s quite unique. And obviously we wanted to minimise the impact on the landscape here — it’s discreet but like a Tardis inside.”
ÖÖD Signature House by WonderInn Arctic, in Norway (Steffen Fossbakk)
As well as the satisfaction that comes with sleeping somewhere a little unusual — “Suffolk is saturated with yurts,” Emma says — there are other advantages to staying at Pound Farm, including the fresh free-range eggs that Emma collects from her “rescue chickens”, and homemade bread and jams.
There are also several trails through the woods, plus a nearby gastropub — the Ufford Crown — and a deck on which to sit back and trace the constellations before heading to bed. Just don’t expect a TV — or any sort of noise, really.
“It’s somewhere you can catch your breath,” Emma says. “There aren’t many places where you can experience this sort of tranquillity and be alone with your thoughts.” In short, it’s the perfect place to reflect.
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