Architecture and design firm: Livit, Bergen, Norway

The details: Even the most superlative designs can pale in comparison to a perfect view. In the opinion of multidisciplinary practice Livit, that translates to the minimalist Birdbox, the prefab birdhouse-like cabins in the Norwegian locales of Fauske and Langeland. Installed via helicopter and mounted upon columns to ensure a reversible and low-impact footprint in the natural environments it frames, “Birdbox is designed so all the focus is on nature and the view outside,” says Livit cofounder Torstein Aa. “It’s almost like being inside a camera casing.” Available in Midi and Mini versions, the retreats feature a matte black palette, multiple windows including a large porthole, and spare furnishings to effortlessly blend with the surroundings. “There is no excess in the design, like in nature itself,” adds Livit CEO Asbjørn Reksten Stigedal.

This article originally appeared in HD’s May 2020 issue.