Archipelago House is a work by Danish studio Norm Architects in Sweden, near Gothenburg. Resembling a fisherman's hut from the outside, the modern and comfortable house inside is designed for a summer holiday for a family with four children. The project combines Scandinavian building traditions and Japanese craftsmanship, incorporating the best of both worlds.
"By harmoniously embodying chaos and order, nature is a constant source of inspiration for humanity and will exist long after we are gone. Therefore, nature should always be seen as a reference point." This is the philosophy of the Danish studio Norm Architects. The architects emphasize that they follow the traditions of Scandinavian design - they value timeless aesthetics, natural materials, and modernist principles of exquisite restraint. "Each of our projects is imbued with the same quality: simplicity that carries great ideas."
When designing the Archipelago House, the architects turned to the vernacular: they used the same techniques that local fishermen used in building their huts and boathouses. Situated on a rocky shore, the house consists of four volumes. Their size and high-pitched roofs are similar to the neighboring houses - there is a small village nearby. "We aimed to integrate the structure into the surroundings flawlessly: the new building should look as if it had always been here."
The four volumes flow into each other on the inside, and are connected on the outside by a wooden deck laid along a sloping site. The interior follows its slope: steps connect the five levels of the house. "The purpose of our architecture is to focus attention not on the building, but on the beautiful nature and life unfolding inside. The building is a functional background for human interaction."
The facades of the Archipelago are covered with pine boards, and wood also dominates inside. It contrasts with the modern self-leveling floor, the surface of which resembles stone in texture and color. A heating system is installed under the floor - following traditions does not cancel out comfort. "Guided by the body and mind, not trends, we offer ideas that not only look good, but also feel good: minimalism acquires softness, and materials - tactile qualities," say the architects.
The main living space is a double-height open-plan space divided by a kitchen island. On one side is the living room, which has a stunning view of the rocky hill with all its crevices and colorful mosses. On the other is the dining room, which opens onto an open terrace and can be connected to it by sliding doors in warm weather. The terrace creates a protected outdoor space: the owners have lunches here, play with their children, and enjoy the water landscape with islands on the horizon.
The house is a repository of natural materials and neutral colors, an extension of the natural landscape. Comparing the interiors and the landscape, it is interesting to observe how the shades of rocks, mosses, dry grass seep into the living room, dining room, kitchen. Unlike the main spaces, maintained in a light palette, the bathroom resembles a cave: lined with dark stone.
Norm Architects collaborated with Japanese wooden furniture manufacturer Karimoku, once again proving the closeness of Scandinavian and Japanese design codes – this is not the first time the two brands have worked together. The clean lines of the architecture are complemented by minimalist, well-thought-out furniture.
“We had a clear goal: for the project to tell the story of each of the companies that contributed to its creation. In addition to Karimoku, we worked with August Sandgren, a master bookbinder who is famous for his work. In particular, he made the N-BB01 storage boxes for small items – they look like books.”
The collection of lamps was created specifically for the project by the Kojima Shouten workshop. The 220-year-old traditional lantern maker from Kyoto has developed cone-shaped lamps with washi paper shades. According to the architects, the N-CC01 club chair, designed by Norm Architects and produced by Karimoku, deserves special attention. It takes up minimal space while providing maximum comfort.
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