Hjortviken Country Club

Just outside of Gothenburg, in the charming town of Hindås, you’ll find Hjortviken Country Club — a newly opened resort designed with relaxation and social connection in mind. With elegant design and an emphasis on shared spaces, this hotel dares to be different. For instance, there are no TVs in the rooms. Instead, each room is equipped with a high-quality sound system to set the mood and give guests a break from the screens that constantly compete for our attention.

What vision inspired this project? What challenges came up along the way? And perhaps most importantly — how do you create a space where analogue and personal experiences take precedence over the digital?

We spoke with Josefine Edstrand from ESS Group and Andreas Hansson from Göteborgs Glasmästeri to learn more about the journey.

“Hjortviken Country Club is located on a site with a long-standing history in hospitality. As early as the 19th century, there was a beautiful four-story wooden hotel here. Even back then, people from Gothenburg and Borås would flock to the area to enjoy the nature and find rest in Hindås,” says Josefine Edman of ESS Group.

“Unfortunately, the building burned down in the 1930s and was replaced by a smaller facility in a functionalist style. Since then, Hjortviken has been extended and rebuilt several times, resulting in a mix of styles. When ESS Group took over, the hotel had 90 rooms, one restaurant, a small wellness area with a sauna, and a handful of conference rooms.”

Andreas, you and your team at Göteborgs Glasmästeri were involved throughout the project. How did you come on board?

“We were brought in through a close collaboration with the contractor BRA Bygg, who sought help with the design and planning of the building’s facade, doors, and window elements. Thanks to our experience with aluminum systems and previous shared projects, we were able to offer smart solutions. By being involved early in the planning, the architect could tailor the design and functionality to suit SAPA’s building systems — which made us the natural partner when construction began.”

A project like this often takes a long time to go from concept to final product. What was the process like, and did you need to make any major changes along the way?

“When ESS Group first started looking seriously at the project, a lot of time was spent trying to rediscover the soul of the place. It had been lost somewhere along the way in all the extensions and renovations over the years. It wasn’t an easy journey, and we explored many different concepts,” says Josefine.

“But in the end, we found our way. The concept fell into place — and the whole house came alive with warmth, joy, and soul again.”

Hjortviken Country Club has a clear mid-century feel, yet it still meets today’s modern building standards. How did you approach the challenge of combining an older style with current technical requirements?

Josefine: “At ESS Group, authenticity is essential. When we design a space, it has to feel real — not like something fake or superficial. That means we’re often seen as a bit demanding during construction. We care about the smallest details: how things are mounted, the size of a screw head, even the weight of a door handle.

Glass elements are one of those things where we really want to get the design right. We’re also very aware that our destinations receive a lot of visitors, so functionality is just as important — even if we want those technical solutions to be seamlessly integrated.

There were moments when the contractors weren’t sure it would all work, but in the end, we could all look back and say: it did work — and it turned out beautifully!”

Hjortviken Country Club has made it a point not to have TVs in the hotel rooms, with the focus instead on reducing the number of screens and emphasizing music, experiences, and plenty of social spaces.

Josefine explains how this, rather than being a limitation, has actually become an opportunity:

"Several generations have ended up in the 'screen trap', and it’s clear that we need more offline time – a chance to meet in real life and not just behind a screen. It’s in real-life interactions that we create true memories and experiences! Do you remember all the silly videos you watched last week? Most likely not… but maybe you remember beating your partner at shuffleboard, or when your group of friends did a challenge on the croquet lawn, or when you did a cannonball into the pool (which, technically, you’re not supposed to do) in front of your coworkers?"

Hjortviken Country Club is designed with a wide variety of activities and spaces so that you can do exactly that: be active and socialize! A game of pool in our very own living room? A round of cards, pinball, Connect Four, padel, croquet, pétanque… So far, we haven’t received a single complaint about the lack of TVs in the rooms, and to me, that’s a clear sign that we’re on the right track! This will be your oasis – a place to truly unwind, disconnect, and create real memories!”

Where there some parts of the projects that where more challenging? Any certain limitations etc.?

Andreas: “One of the biggest challenges was combining modern functionality with a classic aesthetic. For example, the automatic sliding doors using SAPA 2086 and 2074 had to meet high modern standards, but we dressed them in custom steel plates to resemble 1950s café-style doors.

Another major challenge was integrating the Ambial folding door system into the large SAPA 4150 facade elements — this required extra precision. On a smaller scale, we also had to match aluminum profiles with brass fittings and ensure all cover caps were painted to match the facade’s exact color tone.”

Was there any part of the project that was particularly difficult?

Andreas: “Yes, integrating the automatic sliding doors with high technical performance into the retro design was challenging. The Ambial folding systems required exceptional precision. And even smaller details — like combining the aluminum elements with brass fittings and matching all facade cap colors — demanded meticulous work. But it was worth it.”

Anything you’re especially proud of?

Josefine: “The whole experience! Honestly, every part turned out as good — or even better — thanwe had hoped. Seeing the courtyard and pool area come to life this spring with happy, relaxed guests was just magical.”

Andreas: “We’re proud of how well everything came together — how the end result feels as a guest. I’m particularly proud of the folding walls and entrance doors. The craftsmanship really shines through.”