80 | Issue 115 | August 2018Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Autumn Experiences in SwedenWeb: http://www.sherlocked.se
Facebook: sherlockedescaperooms
Instagram: @sherlocked_escape_
roomsWeb: http://www.treehotel.se
Facebook: treehotel
Twitter: @treehotel
Instagram: @treehotelEscape 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.
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.
By Malin Norman | Photos: SherlockedBy Malin Norman | Photos: TreehotelThe 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 solv-
ing riddles. The concept came to Europe a
few years later, but the Nordic region was
relatively late to catch on. “We were the sec-
ond 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,
The unusual Treehotel is located in Harads
— a village of around 600 inhabitants, near
the Lule River. Founders Kent and Brit-
ta 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 maga-
zines. 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
More mystery in the Sherlock show
Back to nature
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 for-
get 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 Malmöthe 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 experi-
ence hosted in a tent by the river. “It’s very
atmospheric and with an excellent three-
course 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 autumnCentral Station. And this year, Sherlocked
is expanding with more games and pro-
fessional 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!months, as the northern lights may appear
as early as September.