Archipelago House, A Swedish Residential Project With Minimalist Character By Norm Architects

Taking its form via a series of four volumes with gabled roofs, the home’s separate spaces are connected by a terraced wooden deck that follows the sloping plot. “The wooden structure is harmoniously merged with the surrounding nature and draws inspiration from the local building traditions found in boathouses on the rocky shores,” explains a statement from the firm. The exterior of each of the four volumes is clad in thin planks of pale wood in varying shades; their colors will weather with age and further blend in with the natural landscape. The home’s interconnecting nature is further emphasized by its material palette: concrete, wood, and glass embody both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics. Details that characterize the interior include polished concrete floors, a pared-back kitchen with handleless oakwood cupboards, and furnishings designed by Norm Architects and Karimoku Case Study. The influence of Japanese design is most apparent in this collaboration, with pieces that include a pebble-grey sofa, a stone-topped coffee table, beautiful armchairs upholstered in a creamy fabric, and little lamps with Japanese lanterns dotted around the home.