Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Autumn Experiences in Sweden
More mystery in the Sherlock show Escape rooms are booming globally, allowing groups of friends and colleagues out on team-building days to enjoy a very special blend of drama, problem-solving and fun. To enhance the experience further, Sherlocked is adding actors to its games. By Malin Norman | Photos: Sherlocked
The escape room trend, which began in Asia about a decade ago, is based on the idea of locking a group of people who know each other in a room together and giving them a limited amount of time to find a way out by using clues, finding hidden items and solving riddles. The concept came to Europe a few years later, but the Nordic region was relatively late to catch on. “We were the second company in Sweden doing it, and that was at the very end of 2014,” says Niklas Åkermyr, owner and founder of Sherlocked. What is unique about Åkermyr’s Sherlocked – other than having pioneered the escape room concept in Sweden – is its environment. As the name suggests, the experience is Sherlock Holmes themed,
from the wallpaper to the props and the staff. “That’s part of why it feels like you’re in an alternate reality and you forget all about work and your everyday life,” Åkermyr explains. “You’re not allowed to bring your mobile phone along, and you’re in this environment that feels like it’s lifted from 150 years ago.” The main Sherlocked building is a house from 1873, bursting with charming original décor and just a stone’s throw from Malmö
Web: www.sherlocked.se Facebook: sherlockedescaperooms Instagram: @sherlocked_escape_ rooms
Back to nature
By Malin Norman | Photos: Treehotel
Treehotel is unlike any other hotel. Some of Scandinavia’s leading architects have created its seven tree rooms, each with a fantastic view of the Lule River valley. The latest addition is ice dining by the river, an unforgettable experience. The unusual Treehotel is located in Harads — a village of around 600 inhabitants, near the Lule River. Founders Kent and Britta Lindvall, managed Britta’s Hostel for 12 years before deciding to build the tree rooms. The idea was inspired by the film Trädälskaren (The Tree Lover) by Jonas Selberg Augustsen, about three city men who build a tree house together. In 2010, the couple opened Treehotel with four rooms and, since then, three more have been added. The individual rooms have been created by some of Scandinavia’s leading architects and, unsurprisingly, Treehotel gets plenty of coverage in architecture and interior magazines. Over the years, this sustainable hotel has received many awards. For instance, its most recent addition, the 7th Room, is included in Condé Nast’s 2018 Hot List of 80 | Issue 115 | August 2018
Central Station. And this year, Sherlocked is expanding with more games and professional actors across two floors. “We’re complementing the traditional escape room concept with theatre, to further enhance the experience. And the games now end in a Victorian-themed bar,” says Åkermyr. Sounds like the perfect finish to the mystery!
the world’s best hotels. Treehotel also won the category Singular Architecture in the Landscape Hotels Awards 2017, and was named Best Family Hotel at the Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Awards 2017. The restaurant, which is included in the White Guide, has recently been revamped and offers magical creations by chef Sebastian Gröndal. Guests can also enjoy ice dining, an absolutely stunning experience hosted in a tent by the river. “It’s very atmospheric and with an excellent threecourse dinner prepared just outside the tent,” says Kent Lindvall. There are also plenty of other things to do in the area, such as hiking, white-water paddling and sea kayaking. Or, for a more relaxed stay, guests can simply enjoy the serenity of the trees and the view. Lindvall recommends a visit during the autumn
months, as the northern lights may appear as early as September.
Web: www.treehotel.se Facebook: treehotel Twitter: @treehotel Instagram: @treehotel