Eleven stories above the arctic circle, a panoramic view — of Norwegian mountains, fjords, and the Northern Lights — sweeps travelers into the natural world.

That’s the first thing you’ll see when you check in at Moxy Tromsø, because the hotel lobby is intentionally perched on the top floor. A welcome drink and an uninterrupted view make this a one-of-kind introduction to one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth.

Sculpted by Copenhagen-based designer and longtime mountain backpacker Mette Fredskild, the hotel is designed to help travelers embrace mother nature, whether that means taking in the vista or putting on their boots and trekking into the mountains.

In addition to being a great home base for hiking, sledding, whale watching, and other outdoor adventures, Moxy Tromsø immerses travelers in a multilayered interior design that pays homage to the Northern Lights, the midnight sun, and the community huts that Mette visits during her trips through the mountains.

In this episode, Mette shows Hamish why she chose to “flip the hotel upside down,” how she used adaptive lighting to ensure that nature would always be front and center, and why it was so critical to offer travelers a space where it’s easy to let go of the modern world.

• 01:56 — Why and how Mette “flipped the hotel upside-down”
• 04:50 — How it feels to trek through the mountain hiking trails of Tromsø
• 07:20 — How to design interiors for a great view of the Northern Lights

Featured Hotel: Moxy Tromsø

Featured Designer: Mette Fredskild, Mette Fredskild Studio

Explore more stories about hotel design at Travel by Design

Follow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews

 @HotelDesigns

 and global travels 

@hotel_travel_editor