A Summer Shelter In Stockholm’s Archipelago
- Words
- Monika Mróz
Hidden in a pine tree forest and facing the peaceful waters of the Baltic Sea, the Archipelago House seems to be a perfect destination for a weekend escape.
The house, designed by THAM & VIDEGÅRD ARKITEKTER, is built on Stockholm Archipelago, an island group located in a 60 km distance from the Sweden’s capital. Commissioned by a private client as a summer house, the project started with the idea of providing a space that would offer several interpretations of the relationship between space and nature. Indeed, instead of interfering the space around it, the house stays closely connected with the archipelago’s dramatic landscape.
The island’s natural conditions dictated certain aspects of construction of the house, too. For instance, due to ban on cars on the island, all materials had to be brought to the site by boat. Thus, the architects chose light-weight materials such as wood and glass to complete the house. The outside spaces were also designed to be sheltered from the island’s strong wind. Designed in a simple and smart way, Archipelago House has yet another advantage – a glazed wall with a view for the Baltic Sea providing a magnificent play of light and shadows in the interior. Blurring the boundary between inside and outside, the windows unite with the horizon and give a feeling of a continuous space.
All images © Åke E:son Lindman