VILLA VATNAN
Nordic Office of Architecture
AREA
250.0 m2
PROJECT YEAR
2016
MANUFACTURER
Dinesen, Rheinzink
ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
John Arne Bjerknes
PHOTOGRAPHS
Visualis / m.c.herzog, Espen Grønli
CLIENT
Vatnan family
Text description provided by architect.
Nordic — Office of Architecture was approached by the Vatnan family to deliver their dream home.
They had a simple architectural vision, but a demanding site on which it was to be realised.
Located on the edge of an established residential area with limited access and a steep topography.
The site does however offer fantastic views from the private and shielded south-west facade.
The family desired a home for both everyday life and entertaining, where the primary rooms are all collated on one floor with generous sizes and well resolved spatial relationships.
By lifting this main floor up to one floor above the natural entrance level, we captured the best of the views and the sun.
The elongated body of the house shelters against the wind and creates an open private outdoor space, while the bedrooms and living areas all have direct access to the garden via a covered terrace stretching the length of the house.
The simple concept is reinforced by the overall simplicity in use of materials.
The entire main floor is covered in pine boards, and the living room, kitchen and terrace are clad in veneered oak.
The concrete is sealed throughout the house, and the ceiling height of 2.8 metres further contributes to the experience of the house opening up towards the grand view to the south-west.
The basement and main deck are cast in concrete and the gable and long walls to the north-east are clad in cedar wood.
Dinesen Oak wooden floor, 450mm width. Used on whole upper main floor in all rooms – living, kitchen and bedrooms, establishing the principle idea of one dominant floor for the whole family.
