The 72 Hour Cabin

The 72 Hour Cabin’ is an initiative from Sweden, where people with some of the world’s most stressful jobs were invited to experience Sweden’s ‘close to nature’ lifestyle, to see what effect it had on their well-being. It consisted of living in Swedish nature for 72 hours, in small cabins made of glass. During their stay, the participants’ well-being was monitored in a case study, developed in collaboration with leading researchers.

Sweden invited five people from Britain, Germany, France and the USA, to live in glass cabins for 72 hours in Sweden’s nature. During their stay, the participants took pleasure in common Swedish outdoor activities, such as swimming and fishing. Their well-being was measured based on parameters such as stress, problem-solving and creativity – and monitored in a case study developed in collaboration with leading stress researchers, Walter Osika and Cecilia Stenfors, from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

The glass cabins are located on Henriksholm Island, two hours north of Gothenburg in Western Sweden. The island is 60% forest and 40% grazing for highland cattle.

The initiator of ‘The 72 Hour Cabin’ is Visit Sweden, in collaboration with Turistrådet Västsverige (West Sweden Tourist Board).

The project took place 7-10 September 2017.

After 72 hours, the participant’s well-being improved significantly, and they decreased their stress levels by almost 70 percent. There was also a decrease in systolic blood pressure by 9 percent, as well as a drop in heart rate and an increase in creativity. Read more about the results.

Year after year, Sweden takes first place in international rankings of countries with the best quality of life. Swedish nature, which is pure, vast and easy to access, is a part of the secret. The Swedes’ unique relationship with nature is an important part of their well-being, which is why Sweden created ‘The 72 Hour Cabin’. The initiative is designed to acquaint visitors with the special bond Swedes have with their natural environment, and to invite the world to experience it too.

The cabins are designed by Jeanna Berger, daughter of Henriksholm owners Staffan and Maria Berger, who is studying to become an architect at Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Gothenburg. Jeanna’s brother-in-law, Jonas Fred Hell, and his colleague Robert Fridh from Fridh & Hells Bygg AB Construction Company in Bengtsfors, realised her vision and built the cabins. Read more about the process.

Yes, the glass cabins are available for public accommodation, find out more information on the West Sweden Tourism Board website.

A special thanks to the following organizations and companies who in various ways contributed during the 72 Hour Cabin. 

Fjällräven, Haglöfs, Hestra gloves, Hilleberg, Houdini, Klättermusen, Light My Fire, Polyver, Primus, Röjk, Sjö&Hav, Varg Clothes, Woolpower, Klippan Yllefabrik