In the small Norwegian town of Voss, where extreme sports enthusiasts come to chase waterfalls and adrenaline rushes, a new kind of accommodation has emerged that's as much about the architecture as it is the adventure. Elva Hotel, which opened in June 2023, sits along the shore of Lake Lundar like a collection of modernist treehouses raised on stilts, each one named after local rivers and waterfalls.
Elva Hotel by the Lake Lundar
The hotel's origin story reads more like an environmental rescue mission than a typical hospitality venture.
Photo by Sam Hughes
Built on what was once an abandoned industrial site, the project involved cleaning up decades of waste, removing invasive plant species, and restoring the wetland habitat along the lake's edge.
Photo by Sam Hughes
Rather than destroying pristine wilderness for tourism, Elva has something rarer: development that actually repairs damaged landscape.
Elvatun Café and Bar
The Elvatun café and bar, housed in the existing building connected to the main structure, serves as a gathering place where rafting guests mingle with hotel visitors and locals alike.
Photo by Sam Hughes
The Elva Restaurant, with its glass facades opening onto the river, takes the local-sourcing concept seriously. The kitchen works with seasonal ingredients from the surrounding region, offering a three-course menu Sunday through Friday and expanding to a seven-course tasting menu on Saturdays.
Roasted pumpkin with lentils
It's the kind of place where you might find yourself eating smoked lamb or roasted pumpkin from nearby Leikanger while watching the light change over the water.
Photo by Sam Hughes
The thoughtful design extends beyond aesthetics to practical considerations. Concrete was used only in foundations and flood-prone areas, with the rest constructed from pre-cut timber to reduce both construction time and waste.
Photo by Sam Hughes
Natural-colored facade materials help the buildings blend into the landscape, while local meadow grasses and flowers planted around the property encourage native wildlife.
The building names - Strandaelva, Myrkdalselva, Tvinnefossen – aren't just marketing flourishes but actual geographic features that you can visit and explore.
Family Room with Murphy bunks
This 14-room property feels both impossibly remote and surprisingly accessible. Five wooden tower houses, each containing one to three rooms, stand alongside a main building that houses the restaurant, conference facilities, and four wheelchair-accessible rooms. The structures are raised on stilts not just for dramatic effect, but out of necessity - much of the site sits below projected flood levels when factoring in climate change.
The rooms embrace a kind of Scandinavian minimalism that stops just short of being austere. Double beds are positioned in window niches - imagine waking up with sweeping views over the lake and mountains beyond.
Ground Floor Double Room - Photo by Sam Hughes
Top-Floor Family Room with Loft
Some units feature mezzanine lofts with additional sleeping space, while custom-built wardrobes from local craftsmen and furniture from Norwegian designers complete the picture. Notably absent are televisions, though Wi-Fi keeps you connected to the world you've temporarily escaped.
Photo by Sam Hughes
Superior Family Room with Loft
Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outdoors in, while dark-stained walls create a cocoon-like intimacy that somehow enhances rather than blocks the views.
For those seeking relaxation between outdoor adventures, three outdoor jacuzzis and a wood-fired sauna provide the quintessential Norwegian experience of hot and cold contrasts.
The hotel sits just minutes from Voss's ski areas and gondola, with a free shuttle service connecting guests to the slopes.
Nedkvitnesvegen 25, 5710 Skulestadmo, Norway
