A Minimalist Retreat Perfectly Optimized For A Family Of Five

Sheltered on the island of Stokkøya in Norway, the hut on sloping ground, which we will present to you in the following paragraphs, is the very embodiment of a lifestyle focused on the essentials by eliminating the superfluous. The retreat was designed for a family of five, by the Kappland Arkitekter architectural firm. Built on the hill, the hut combines, in the best possible way, two totally different landscapes: the sea to the west and the dramatic greenery to the east. Perched on stilts at the front and anchored to a concrete slab at the rear, the structure appears to float above the slope, leaving no footprints.

Hut on sloping ground on Stokkøya Island

The stepped construction creates various volumes both indoors and outdoors, allowing occupants to enjoy the morning and evening sun and stay out of the wind.

The central living space houses a living area, a dining area and a kitchen, all overlooking the surrounding landscape. As for the bedrooms, these spaces occupy the upper level of the retreat to offer the maximum of the breathtaking view. The panoramic window in the living room faces west, overlooking the sea, while the windows in the kitchen offer an intimate view of the vegetation of the hill.

Built-in birch furniture clears the space and offers a nice perspective on the whole retreat

Despite the reduced space, functionality and comfort have not been overlooked. The choice of built-in birch furniture made it possible to store everything without cluttering up the space. The stairs, for example, house several storage compartments that serve as both bookshelves and bed frames. Betting on built-in furniture was not a risky choice. Quite the contrary: according to the architects, thanks to this type of custom-made furniture, we only improve the ways of occupying the different spaces.

For example, as part of the bed frame, the element creates an intimate resting space while providing a backrest that allows you to both relax and enjoy the sea view. In the living room, its role is to shelter stuff to take care of order without spoiling the view.

The exterior wood siding, impregnated by the Royal process, offers effective protection, durable waterproofing and tint as well as a long life. The dark shade was chosen so as not to clash with the surrounding rocks. And in addition to blending into the environmental context, the dark cladding elegantly contrasts with the light wood dressing the floors, walls and ceilings inside.

Simple architectural huts, overlooking stunning natural views, are currently very common in Norway, and this is not without reason. Maybe living in a cabin on sloping ground is a great idea, worth exploring and experiencing!

* Stokkøya House by Kappland arkitekter