A villa with 24/7 service, five rooms and ten beds, “private deluxe,” is the new addition to Harads, Boden, Swedish Lapland, and the world. Here, nature and Scandinavian design come together in harmony with the site’s history, research, folklore, and magic.
The winding winter road down to Villa Äng is lined with snow-covered trees, reminiscent of a fairytale path. The 400-square-meter villa that rises at the end of the road is, despite its size, ingeniously embedded in the landscape. The entrance feels like a gateway to its own little world, where families, friends, or smaller groups can be completely by themselves, with access to their own chef, host, and private driver.
With windows facing the Northern Lights in autumn and winter, and the midnight sun in summer, total seclusion is part of the luxury offered.
At the inauguration, a white blanket of snow envelops the slope between the villa’s jacuzzi and the Lule River. In summertime, the view transforms into a vast flower meadow and the Lule River reflects nature in all the colors of the day.
Back to the roots
In the concept, she has combined her many years of background in research and biology with her parents Kent Lindvall and Britta Jonsson Lindvall’s experience of building and running the internationally known design hotel Treehotel. Together, they all share a drive and courage that once again creates something new in the small village of Harads. Now with Jenny’s structured twist and baton.
– The feeling here should be that of being taken care of, that it should be private, and a hospitality where the guest is seen, summarizes Jenny Isaksson, CEO.
Jenny has lived in Gothenburg for many years and has worked with research at Biobank Väst, Sahlgrenska University Hospital. An operation far from international luxury tourism, but still with elements that she benefits greatly from today. Handling large projects and budgets, flexibility, and the ability to manage projects and find solutions. From a distance, and sometimes very close when she stepped in and helped her parents, she has been able to observe the joys and tribulations of the tourism industry through all the years. She has seen Kent and Britta’s hard work, but also shared their successes and joy.
– I moved from here 30 years ago, and in the end, the place you left is more exotic than your home. For me, several pieces of the puzzle fell into place here. I have always had my heart here, I wanted to do something different, something of my own that I can control myself. It was now that I felt it was possible, says Jenny.
Active retirees
In 2023, Treehotel was sold to new owners, and Kent and Britta began preparing for their new life. People who have followed their entrepreneurship probably suspected that it would not be a classic quiet retirement life. A long-awaited project was to build their own dream house. They enlisted the help of their friend Bertil Harström, who is one of the architects at both Treehotel and Arctic Bath in Harads, to design and architect their own property. But the land that Kent and Britta had bought on the outskirts of Harads had room for more and tickled their creative brains with new possibilities. Maybe it would be possible to do something for tourists here as well, on the meadow…
Requested concept
The tourism industry signaled a clear demand for completely private, exclusive accommodation with several rooms, especially from international guests. High-end plus.
– We started talking about a building for a family, with two rooms. But it grew along the way and ended up in this. It is inspiring to be involved and do something again, but now we are only involved in a bit and help Jenny, says Kent, before he grabs the snow shovel and goes out to shovel up the wooden deck on the back of the house.
The idea with the meadow sowed a seed in Jenny. She had bought her own property in Bodträskfors (the historic old manor house) and became a landlord at a distance. She lives there herself and has several tenant horses, including Villa Äng’s chef with partner.
Stepping into the tourism industry herself was absolutely not a matter of course. But slowly but surely, a vision grew about creating something in the place where she has her roots, sprung from her own thoughts and abilities and her parents’ experiences and trust in the industry.
– This is really Jenny’s concept, says Britta, and points out that her and Kent’s role is to support and contribute with what they can and be close.
– The house awakens a curiosity. I have set the theme in the storytelling and can really stand for this, says Jenny, who likes to let the guests meet both learning and mystery, the opportunity for quiet meditation, body awareness, local food craftsmanship and international touch.
Research and folklore
An extra dimension in addition to the private exclusive accommodation is that Villa Äng connects the history of the village with the magic of nature. Jenny’s background in research and biology became a natural link to, among other things, Carl von Linné’s journey along the Lule River Valley and Harads. Plants in the area have been given names to the rooms, and nature and knowledge are also woven into both art and the range of activities.
– This is, for example, the room Ormbär (Snakeberry), says Jenny, and picks out textiles that are chosen to harmonize with just that room’s and that plant’s theme.
Meadowsweet, Arctic Raspberry, Meadow Bellflower, and Valerian are the other rooms’ beautiful names, which also provide an opportunity for more knowledge for the guests who will stay here.
Local collaborations
Villa Äng complements the already existing tourism industry in the Edefors region. It is also a great asset that there are already people with experience and accustomed to delivering at a high level in the area.
– The idea is to collaborate with the expertise that is here that we can work with in the long term. Now we are looking forward to welcome our first guests!
FACTS VILLA ÄNG
The accommodation is designed as an exclusive villa of approximately 400 square meters with:
- 5 double rooms with private bathrooms (for up to 10 guests).
- Lounge and dining area with panoramic views.
- Sauna and outdoor jacuzzi.
- Private chef, host/concierge, and driver.
- Only one group at a time – complete private experience.
Architect: Mats Öhman
Interior design collaboration: Tegboms and STYLT
Construction: Vittjärvhus
Text: ANNA BERGSTRÖM
