Experience the seamless integration of architecture and nature with Atelier Oslo's House on an Island. (Photo : Ivar Kvaal )
The House on an Island, the Atelier Oslo manner of design, resides on South Norway's beautiful coastline. It is admired as one of the world's architectural beauties and wonders. They said the small house was designed to serve as the sanctuary for two visionary artists fleeing the chaos of their surroundings and searching for peace, inspiration, and solace in the island's rugged beauty.
Entrance Sequence
As you ascend the gently sloping hill, which offers a picturesque view of the house's entrance, you embark on a journey guided by a staircase that gracefully descends through the structure. This symbolic descent parallels the transition from the bustling and tumultuous outside world to the tranquil sanctuary within. The innovative architectural design of this opening sequence sets the stage for the remarkable experience that awaits visitors, promising a blend of elegance and tranquility that resonates throughout the entire space.
(Photo: Nils Vik/D2)
Integration with Topography
The site's topography, characterized by smooth and curved rocks descending towards the ocean, was crucial in shaping the design. Concrete floors were strategically laid at different levels, seamlessly integrating with the natural landscape and creating various outdoor spaces. These concrete elements blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, allowing the interior spaces to merge harmoniously with the rugged terrain. The kitchen, bathroom, and fireplace emerge from the concrete floors like sculptural elements, serving the inhabitants with functionality while enhancing the organic connection to the surroundings.
Above the concrete foundation, a prefabricated timber structure is delicately placed, providing the framework for the living spaces. In the end, delicate wooden walls surround the cabin, filtering light and invincible nature, making the views of the island's forest unforgettable. The translucence of the timber shape brings an irresistible light and shade throughout, which is the plunge that one feels beneath the canopy of trees.
Annex and Outdoor Spaces
Adjoining a large cabin, a small annex, which is the buffer zone of the nearby building, offers additional undercover space for freeing from the surroundings and thoughts. All exterior timber used for construction is Kebony. This unique timber is specially treated and, when used in a project, ages remarkably without much maintenance, becoming hugely indistinguishable from the surroundings.
From the start of its building process to its end, the house on an island shows how architects can bring people closer to nature. The magnificent abode is home to two artists who, upon having been exhausted by the buzz when it comes to modern life, have created their very own place where they can develop and reflect on the arts while simultaneously taking pleasure in the breathtaking beauty seducing them in the unsavory wilderness elsewhere.
