A snow dome like no other

Restaurant Tusen, an obvious retreat from the harsh conditions of the Swedish ski slopes, won the Holiday category at this year's World Architecture Festival in Barcelona.

Situated in Ramundberget at an altitude of 1,000m, no other buildings can be seen from the restaurant. The aim of the architect, Murman Arkitekter, was to create a space that was both intimate and spacious while also offering a magnificent view over the peaks and providing easy access to the ski slopes.

Birch wood tree trunks pile up into a conical form around a steel and wooden inner structure to form an outer skin that protects the building from outside's wintery woes. It allows snow to stay on the facade, lets the cold wind pass and offers amazing and expansive views from the comfort and warmth of a 125-seat restaurant.