The small house is situated on an island on the south coast of Norway. The site is characterized by smooth, curved rocks that lead down towards the ocean. The house was built for two artists who wanted a house for contemplation and working.
You enter the project from the back, walking along a small hill. The entrance is a stairway that goes through the building taking you to the entrance on the front side. The entrance sequence marks a transition and prepares you for life on the Island.
The topography of the site was carefully measured to integrate the rocks into the project. Concrete floors on different levels connect with the topography and create a variety of different outdoor spaces. The concrete floors and stairs dissolve the division of inside and outside. The interior becomes part of the landscape, and walking in and around the cabin becomes a unique experience, where the different qualities from the site become part of the architecture. From the concrete floors, the kitchen, bathroom and fireplace grow up to serve the inhabitants like furniture that is sitting on the rock.
A prefabricated timber structure is placed on the concrete floors and, finally, a lightweight wooden structure covers the cabin to filter the light and direct the views. The wood structure has a depth that creates a play of shadows throughout the day and a calm atmosphere that resembles the feeling of sitting under a tree.
A small annex creates a fence towards the neighboring building and another sheltered outdoor space.
All exterior wood is Kebony, a heat-treated wood that eventually will turn grey.
