We adore this project and think it was a well-deserved win for Swedish architecture firm Murman Arkitekter at the World Architecture Festival.

Scooping the top prize in the 'Holiday' category, this mountain restaurant in Ramundberget, Sweden is situated on a small hill where the tree line meets the mountains.

Like some kind of iron age hill fort or a Tolkein-esque fairy palace, the building finds its place between slow growing birch trees, brooks and rocks - a location that emphasises the buildings' relation to the nature, summer and winter.

From this site you have an unobstructed, wide view over the Helags and Skars mountains, plus easy access to the ski slopes.

Here's what the Murman Arkitekter had to say about their project:

"We wanted a building that harmonise with the landscape's character both in shape, design and material. Obviously visible from a distance with an inviting entrance area to the south. The restaurant will work on a sunny day as well as on a winter day around one of the fireplaces inside.

The food and drink is based on local specialities. Our ambition is that the interior is both intimate and spacious and offers a magnificent view over the peaks around the building. The facade material is given by the surrounding nature, birch logs stands like a huge protecting screen towards the Nordic icy winds.

We used the same material for the restaurant in exterior as well as the interior. The round shape is natural for the exposed situation and it lets the snow stay on the facade.

It lets the cold winds pass and it offers maximum view contact from the inside and open its embrace forming a protected outdoor space where you can sit in the sun towards the white mountains.

In one way it is a mini society, with its own mountain water and own mini sewage treatment works. It could as well have its own wind power station in the future."

Our congratulations to Murman Arkitekter.