The Polite House

The Polite House
© Lars Evanger

THE POLITE HOUSE

JVA

ARCHITECTS
JVA

LOCATION
Trondheim, Norway

CATEGORY
Houses

AREA
170.0 m2

PROJECT YEAR
2012

PHOTOGRAPHER
Lars Evanger

CONSULTANTS
Byggmester Hans Helseth AS

CLIENT
Tonje Evanger, Tom Arne Pedersen

PRIMARY ARCHITECTS
Einar Jarmund, Håkon Vigsnæs, Alessandra Kosberg, Ane Sønderaal Tolfsen, Claes Cho Heske Ekornås, Paul-Henri Henn

Text description provided by architect.

Situated in the residential area of Havstein, this compact single family house is overlooking the fjord and city of Trondheim.

The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger

The house has a modest and abstract formal character in a neighbourhood with various density and architectural expressions.

Regulated minimal distance to adjacent road is maintained by the shifting geometrical shape of the house.

The shift also obtains a significant view for a neighbour up the hill. These two obstructions – road and neighbour – gave the house its characteristic form.

The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger

Strong verticality has emerged from a narrow site. The upright shape gives great views from the living room to the north, and the lifted terrace provides a comfortable outdoor space to the south.

The shifted upper level of the house makes intricate spaces inside. The plan is really compact with various functions combined such as play area with hallway, guest with office space and kitchen and living room together.

Angled walls and narrow spaces give specific solutions to a dense house. The vase-like expression of the house has emerged from minimal details, along with an exterior and interior cladding in white fiber cement panels.

The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger

Ceilings are in birch plywood and the floor is made in epoxy terrazzo cast on site which gives a warm atmosphere to the interior.


The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger
The Polite House
© Lars Evanger


The Polite House
East elevation
The Polite House
West elevation
The Polite House
South elevation
The Polite House
North elevation


The Polite House
Basement floor plan
The Polite House
First floor plan
The Polite House
Second floor plan


The Polite House
Section
The Polite House
Site plan