As one would expect from Nordic countries these forty architect designed homes reflect the owner's search for simplicity and the extensive use of natural materials, wood is used in virtually every house for floors, walls or ceilings. Six countries contribute to the book's contents, Norway with twelve has the most. Historically the houses start at the beginning of the last century with Lilla Hyttna, in Sundborn, Sweden (and open to the public) with the latest, Villa Bergslia, Oslo, Norway from 2023.
An interesting common element is the use of large windows because several are located
overlooking water or dramatic mountains and countryside. Two do their best to blend into the landscape, the Kamban House in the Faroe Islands and the Hof House in Iceland have grass on their roofs. Villa Birkedal and Villa Gug in Denmark with Villa Bergslia, Norway all have round sections which creates some interesting interior rooms. There are two houses that consider design styles outside of the Nordic area, Arne Jacobson's 1931 Rothenborg House in Klampenborg, Denmark is clearly in the modernist style and Matti Suuronen's 1968 rather novel flying saucer home in Espoo, Finland. Perhaps another could be the 1975 Nurmesniemi House with its exterior and interior which I thought was very reminiscent of the 1945-1949 Eames Case Study House in LA.
The author has carefully selected properties where architects have really stretched their creativity. The PAN cabins in Asnes, Norway are raised A-frame structures with a self contained spiral staircases and bridges to their entrances. Konsberg, Norway has the Greenhouse Home, with the family's rooms inside the huge glass structure.
I found one of the joys of this book is the almost square shape which allows Richard Powers beautiful photos to be big on a page or spread. Therese Vandling's excellent book design helps too. Any architect will find much to inspire them after looking at Nordic house creativity.
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