This Idyllic Swedish Summerhouse Can Only be Reached by Boat

ByMyProperty Life

Helicoptered to the site in prefab pieces, a holiday retreat springs up on a remote and roadless island.

A view from the bridge toward the guesthouse on the left and the sauna on the right.

The Zartmann family dreamed of building a timber summerhouse on a remote island in the Stockholm archipelago, so they reached out to Scandinavian modular home company Sommarnöjen to make their weekend retreat a reality. When site studies showed that helicoptering entire modules to the property wouldn’t be possible, Sommarnöjen asked Anders Berensson Architects to design a home composed of easily transportable prefab panels.

Located on a remote island without roads, the Zartmann House is accessible only by private boat or a seasonal ferry ride followed by a one-third-mile walk.

Located on a remote island without roads, the Zartmann House is accessible only by private boat or a seasonal ferry ride followed by a one-third-mile walk.

Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

Anders Berensson Architects

“The island is very beautiful and untouched compared to many others in the Stockholm archipelago,” says Anders Berensson, founder and director of Anders Berensson Architects. “The challenge was figuring out how to place the house in a way that would enhance the qualities of the site. Since the plot varies in height, we divided the house into small volumes that could fit on the site.”

To navigate the tricky terrain, the architects created four timber volumes on separate rocks connected by a deck and a bridge that traverses the site from east to west.

Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

On the east side, two large volumes make up the main house, which includes an open-plan living/dining/cooking area, two bedrooms with a shared bath, storage, and a furnace room. The elevated deck surrounding the main home connects to the bridge, which leads to the sauna and a two-bedroom guesthouse in the west.

“The deck and living room host spaces for daytime activities,” says Berensson. “After crossing the bridge, you can enjoy the sunset over the Stockholm Archipelago from on top of the sauna house.”

Anders Berensson Architects

A view from the bridge toward the guesthouse on the left and the sauna on the right.
Read another article:Revamped Small Barcelona Apartment Combines Multiple Styles and Finishes

A view from the bridge toward the guesthouse on the left and the sauna on the right.

Anders Berensson Architects

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Idyllic Swedish Summerhouse Can Only Be Reached by Boat

Similar Posts

  • Blackened Wood Apartment

    Taiwanese architecture studio CTT Architects designed this interior project for a doctor in Taipei City. The apartment is located on the 21st floor of the residential tower nestled in the mountains surrounding the Taipei Basin. The design concept places emphasis on the connection to the surrounding vistas. In contrast with the original layout, the living area has been rearranged such that one can enjoy the amazing urban night views whilst introducing the external greenery inside during the day. We have also tailored the layout to meet the requirements of the client’s modern life. Following a busy day at work, he can completely unwind in the living room in the midst of the mesmerising urban night views; and be awoken by the dappled morning sunlight reflecting off the surrounding green mountains. We believed that every aspect of an interior design requires a bespoke response to its own contextual surrounding as well as to the individual needs of the occupants. The different spatial functions such as bedroom and bathroom are seen as different grey units in the public space. However, homely styling is found inside the master bedroom. Wooden finishings are used to complement subtle light grey walls allowing the stunning views to be the main element – lush green mountain landscapes. At the entrance to the apartment, the simple grey wall with a small bench gives an air of simplicity in complete contrast with the mountain views seen through the expanse of the three window units, which speak for themselves. In the kitchen and dining area, the open plan provides ample space that can be adapted flexibly to suit the changing needs of the modern city dweller. In terms of material selection, fine textured black charred timber panels are deliberately chosen to frame the surrounding mountain and city views. The design strategy is to use the black charred wall to contrast with the green and sky during the day; at night, the blackened panels blend seamlessly into the night view. The custom-made black island comes with black taps to contrast with the white kitchen joinery behind. When it comes to detailing, our approach is to delineate different architectural elements through shadow gaps. For example the walls and ceilings are detached using shadows gaps which are also accentuated by indirect lighting after sunset. Every architectural element has been detached including the ceiling, beams, and walls to showcase themselves as individual elements and avoiding detractive decorations.