TØVA is a heartfelt tribute to traditional Nordic cabin escapes, designed in harmony with the cosmopolitan Swiss Alps.
World-renowned Norwegian architects Snøhetta introduce TØVA, an exclusive collection of 14 residences and four duplex penthouses that re-imagine Nordic cabin life for the Swiss Alps.
The fourteen inviting residences and four duplex penthouses echo the picturesque Alpine landscape views, with soothing natural textures and tones. Each space is thoughtfully designed for shared moments: memorable nights around the fire, relaxing together in the wellness suite, and lounging on your cosy loggia, watching the snowflakes fall.
IN CONVERSATION WITH SNØHETTA
Named for a mountain in central Norway, Snøhetta creates innovative spaces where human experiences and emotions intersect with the natural environment. Their portfolio includes a revived ancient Egyptian library, the landmark Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the holistic transformation of New York City’s Times Square.
How does TØVA convey the concept of Nordic Cabin life?
A Nordic cabin isn’t just a place, it’s an iconic experience in our culture. You and your family escape the frenetic modern world and head to an isolated cabin to get closer to nature; hiking, fishing, foraging, even hunting. The Norwegian word friluftsliv or “free air life”, describes how being outdoors nourishes both body and spirit. By mindfully engaging with nature, you awaken the senses and find a deep sense of wellbeing. Inside TØVA, we echo the emotions of Nordic cabin life, with spaces that soothe the psyche and encourage a sense of connection with the natural world and the people around you.
Does TØVA’s interior design feel like a typical cabin?
Traditionally, Nordic cabins were quite rustic, some without electricity or running water. The decor is typically simple, warmed up with cosy cushions and throws. At TØVA, we translate that simplicity into a very modern approach. The core ethos is koselig, a state of mind where you actively embrace winter, rather than ‘enduring’ it. This starts with the hearth, the heart of any cabin, reflected throughout TØVA, always with a large wooden table nearby for shared meals or evening card games. We weave in nostalgic cabin references, such as bunk beds, but always in a contemporary context of luxurious contentment.
How did the surrounding landscape influence the design?
Nature is integral to Nordic life, so TØVA brings the landscape indoors. TØVA’s style is refined, but also very pure. Instead of ‘decorating’ the interiors, we showcase beautiful local timber and raw, chiselled stone, both crafted with different levels of refinement or roughness to add richness and character. Seeing and touching natural materials connects us with nature, and even boosts wellbeing. We balance the wood and stone with textiles, adding softness and the human touch. Abstract landscape tapestries adorn the walls, hand-woven by a Nordic artist, a nod to heritage crafts and the tradition of weaving or knitting by the cabin fire.
How does your design encourage togetherness?
Community is the heart of the TØVA experience. In terms of design, this means generous gestures that promote interaction. TØVA has extensive communal amenities, including a spacious living room with a roaring fire. Large tables and benches encourage neighbours to gather, instead of splintering into small clusters. In addition to the well-appointed gym, relaxation room and sauna, we added a cinema room with a large sofa landscape, which also functions as a children’s play area. In these community spaces, TØVA residents will relax together, talk and play.
What kind of atmosphere did you want to create at TØVA?
We want residents to experience TØVA as a haven of genuine serenity. Lighting creates a cosy ambience. Each glowing fireplace signals a moment of gathering, and lamps add warm illumination. We curated bespoke furniture in a range of sculptural shapes, hinting at the playfulness of nature. Poufs look like granite boulders, but feel soft to the touch. Textures add richness: rough contrasts with smooth, grainy with refined, sofas feature tactile weaving. Beautifully crafted shelves highlight the Nordic cabin tradition of collecting a stone, feather or branch on your walk and bringing it home as a souvenir of your time outdoors.
IN CONVERSATION WITH BRANDENBERGER KLOTER
Founders Adrian Kloter and Oliver Brandenberger are well-known as proponents for intelligent urban planning and buildings that enhance wellbeing, with an emphasis on materials, light and space. This award-winning Swiss architectural firm has an impressive portfolio of residential homes and public buildings for educational and cultural organisations.
How did you approach the early design stages of TØVA?
The philosophy behind TØVA is the Nordic cabin culture, inspiring a strong connection between inside and outside, so we knew TØVA should be a wooden house. You can feel the depth of materiality, like standing inside the mountain forest, and smelling it as well. TØVA has a prime position on a piazza, so it needs to look distinctive, but also in harmony with the streetscape. And, while inspired by Nordic ideas, TØVA must also feel at home within Andermatt. The solution was to give the house a powerful stature, while using natural materials and a subtle colour palette, as seen in the light-coloured wood of the façade.
Can you tell us more about the materials you chose?
We echo the Swiss Alpine landscape with Douglas Fir, Larch and Pine. From a distance, the wood appears uniform, but as you get closer, you discover a playful complexity of patterns, woven together like a fabric. This tectonic approach adds character and helps you feel the wood. Despite being six floors, TØVA feels human in scale, its façade divided into two-floor sections.
The ground floor features stone from local quarries, rough and elemental. The contrasting textures of the wood and stone highlight specialised local craftsmanship. This house will age naturally as the wood weathers, giving TØVA a strong sense of belonging.
What makes the building an example of Nordic design?
TØVA isn’t a pastiche of a rustic log cabin. It is a tribute to the Nordic philosophy of being together in the natural landscape, while also being in harmony within the sophisticated world of Andermatt. Natural wood and the glass-enclosed loggia encourage a connection with the outdoors. This loggia is a sophisticated version of a cabin’s porch, with the option of closing the glass to enjoy sunlight and warmth.
On entering your residence, a look-through to the loggia draws you towards the landscape, as do the windows. We’ve let the corner windows cantilever out, giving TØVA a more interesting footprint.
What feeling did you want to create for the residents living here?
Our hope is that residents feel connected to nature at TØVA, and also feel perfectly content at home with their favourite people.