Bentley's done it, Aston Martin's done it, and now Swedish automotive brand Polestar has also decided to dip its toe into the world of architecture. The firm has created a sleek treehouse that is defined by its generous glazing and minimalist decor.
The Koja was first created by Kristian Talvitie for a competition held by Polestar in 2021. He received an honorable mention and the automaker was so enamored with his design that it eventually decided to build it.
The treehouse is currently located in a forest as part of the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, in Finland, until September. Its overall form is likened to a spaceship in the forest by Polestar's team and is mounted to a tree at a height of 6 m (19.6 ft) above the forest floor. It's finished in Nordic Fir and Spruce CLT (cross laminated timber), with an iron frame.
The Koja's name derives from the Swedish word for a hut or den and that's really how it's best considered, rather than some kind of full-time abode. It's accessed by a staircase and consists of one modest-sized room designed for two people that's arranged into a U-shape. The room is conceived as a lounge/sleeping area with no other amenities – however there's also a standalone bathroom installed nearby in the woods for when nature calls.
The interior decor reflects both Scandinavian design and Polestar's own aesthetic sensibilities, and it's handled very tastefully, with no over-the-top branding or corny car-related paraphernalia to spoil the minimalistic looks. In a nice touch, the tree actually runs through the center of the room and is uncovered in one area, while the generous glazing ensures ample natural daylight inside, as well as providing panoramic views of the surrounding forest.
Polestar told us that the Koja serves as a concept prototype model to promote interest in sustainable travel, and is not open to bookings. Alas, there are also no immediate plans to manufacture it commercially.
Source: Polestar
