– The landscape here in Otta, Norway, is spectacular and with this as the cornerstone of the idea, it would be wrong to mess it up. That’s why we’ve chosen local craftsmen and local natural materials, says Ingrid Tho.

She is the creator of the lodge project, which has been appropriately named Eagles Nest Eco Lodge.

The lodge is located at an altitude of 901 metres and is suspended eight metres from the rock face – which perhaps gives the world’s best views of the Rondane National Park in Norway.

Building this ‘eagles nest’ was a dream come true for Ingrid Tho and her partner.

– We have a farm in Otta, which is no longer used for traditional farming. The farm comprises a large area that includes this mountain peak. When Covid-19 arrived, we wanted to try something new. So we decided on something really spectacular.

It’s not just the lodge’s location that has a high ‘wow’ factor. Every detail indoors is well thought-out. The lodge is just a short distance from the Pillarguri Quarry, which is famous for its characteristic dark Otta Pillarguri slate. This was naturally the material Ingrid Tho naturally chose to use in the lodge’s interior.

– We chose black mosaic slate tiles of Otta slate for the bathroom because the slate looks as though it’s studded with diamonds. This is to be a luxury mountain lodge, and this slate gives the bathroom a very exclusive feel. This will be reinforced by the grouting between the tiles, which will be in gold, she says.

See how you can turn your bathroom into your cabin’s centrepiece!

The plan is for the tiles to be cut so they are in the same style as the rest of the lodge. And this is a lodge in a very particular style, or geometry, as it were. The tiles will be cut into triangle shapes, like several of the windows, besides the mirror in the bathroom. A lot of work has been devoted to giving the lodge a distinctive style. So distinctive, in fact, that they have even sewn their own bedding.

– Once we decided to go through with this project, we wanted to do it properly. That’s why we included monastic stitching in the pattern for the bedding, as a tribute to the local craft tradition, Ingrid Tho explains.

For a similar reason, it was important that the craftsmen should have their roots in the surrounding area.

– But this wasn’t out of charity. The local craftsmen are the best, especially when it comes to local craft traditions. It’s also good that the people we work with are located nearby, should help be needed at short notice, says Ingrid Tho.

The lodge is decorated with the same care as a luxury suite in a hotel. In addition to the lovely bathroom, there will be a kitchen area with a dishwasher, a seating area and a large, inviting bed in the middle of the room.

– This is a place where you can really enjoy the spectacular scenery surrounding the lodge, while relaxing in a supper-modern setting. That’s why we’ve put a lot of thought into making the lodge as comfortable and practical as possible. People should come here to unwind, she says.

It will also be possible to enjoy the great outdoors. It doesn’t sound too bad to enjoy the beautiful Rondane National Park from the hot tub, does it?

Ingrid Tho hopes that the lodge can open for guests towards the end of summer. The lodge needs to be ready by then. And tested – of course.

– We’re committed to bringing in a test panel as from July, so that everything is in place for us to receive guests in August 2021.

But are you going to try it yourselves first?

– Yes, of course we are! Ingrid Tho cheerfully responds.