Dalarö House by Olson Kundig is a rock star
Dalarö House, US practice Olson Kundig’s first build in Sweden, takes centre stage in the Stockholm archipelago

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Thank you for signing up to Wallpaper. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The island of Dalarö, in the Stockholm archipelago, has long been associated with escape. Its picturesque streets are dotted with the holiday homes of well-heeled Stockholm residents, and its prevailing historical architecture even includes a one-time retreat of Swedish writer and painter Johan August Strindberg. Close by, a new, contemporary architecture story unfolds: welcome to Dalarö House, the latest residential project by Seattle- and New York-based architecture studio Olson Kundig, and the practice’s first completion in Sweden.
Conceived as a summer retreat for an American couple who travel frequently to Sweden, Dalarö House sits on sloped terrain, strategically placed to act as a viewpoint to nature. It draws on its place, contemporary yet crafted to connect with the land, docks and water beyond. ‘The site had a lot of exposed stone, and we wanted the home to feel nestled into it and quiet to the surrounding landscape,’ says Tom Kundig, co-founder and the principal in charge of this particular project. ‘The nearby Strindberg cottage is known and valued in the community, and was kept and restored as a guest house [by the clients, who own it], so the new home needed to be in dialogue with that historic structure. The traditional red colour of the cottage, known as falun red, is used all over this region, and we also used that colour at the home’s entry to help tie the two buildings together.
An ‘Emily’ chandelier by Daniel Becker Studio hangs in the open-plan living area. The interiors were created by Liljencrantz, a Stockholm studio known for its expert cabinetmaking skills
Dalarö House by Olson Kundig
As a result, the house’s entrance echoes the local vernacular, connecting it with the region’s style and history, and acting as a transition between the traditional Dalarö context and the 21st-century home. Beyond the entrance lies the main living space, comprising a lounge, kitchen and dining area, with glazed walls and clerestory windows effortlessly bringing soft light and the outside in. The clients had specifically asked for a space that could accommodate both entertaining and quiet contemplation, and where inside and outside life could blend organically. Having seen a past Olson Kundig project, The Pierre on Washington’s San Juan Islands – which, like Dalarö House, nestles within existing rocks on the site – they knew the studio was the ideal candidate to translate their vision. ‘A driving agenda in my work
is to uncover what makes a place uniquely itself, and how architecture can reveal something about that truth,’ Kundig stresses.
A thick exposed concrete wall bisects the house, integrating matching indoor and outdoor fireplaces
The home displays Olson Kundig’s expert balance of textured rawness and warm polish, bringing together exposed concrete, oak floors, and bespoke metalwork and joinery. As the villa was to be used mainly as a holiday home, the architects adjusted their material and colour approach accordingly. ‘The house was intended for use primarily in summer, so we moved away from the lighter palettes that are traditional to Scandinavian architecture, and instead used darker materials to create
a refuge from the light,’ explains Kundig.
The living area is flanked by two smaller wings containing bedrooms and bathrooms – two sets in total. These also open up to the water through floor-to-ceiling windows, and everything comes together to craft the impression of living in a ‘weathered beach house’. Careful construction and detailing were crucial in achieving this, as were the interiors, created by local studio Liljencrantz. ‘They were excellent partners and brought a lot of creativity to the project,’ says Kundig, who also worked closely with the local architect and contractor, ‘who were instrumental in the project’s delivery’.
The summer retreat features floor-to-ceiling windows with black frames and oak floors throughout
‘The defining feature of this home is its relationship to the larger, natural landscape. We wanted to maintain that sensitivity to this special place and create a home that
is quiet and deferential to the context,’ concludes Kundig. ‘A major feature of the architecture is a thick concrete wall that extends outdoors on two sides. It integrates fireplaces, both inside and outside, as well as an outdoor shower. Inside, it also acts as a separator between the entertaining spaces and the more private areas.’ Pine siding in a traditional Scandinavian finish and a green roof complete the home’s masterful immersion in its locale.
A version of this story appears in the July 2023 issue of Wallpaper*, available now in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).
-
Slot Canyon Residence balances openness and seclusion in Palm Springs
Slot Canyon Residence by RIOS, set in the Las Palmas neighbourhood of Palm Springs, strikes a balance between openness and seclusion
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
‘London of the Future’ provides an optimistic window into the city of 2123
The London Society’s new monograph, ‘London of the Future’, attempts to define the role of architecture, design and planning in a far-future capital
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Dior MakeUp’s Peter Philips crafts looks inspired by design
Dior MakeUp’s creative and image director Peter Philips and photographer Charles Negre combine extravagant make-up with rare ceramics for a one-of-a-kind Wallpaper* story
By Mary Cleary Published
-
Studio He, Sweden: Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023
Studio He, a young architecture practice in Sweden, joins the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023, our annual round-up of exciting emerging architecture studios
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Arctic conditions shape pared-down house in northern Sweden by Claesson Koivisto Rune
Claesson Koivisto Rune’s new pared-down house makes a bold sculptural statement on the banks of Sweden’s Lule River, shaped by building regulations and its location’s Arctic conditions
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Big Branzino sauna floats in the Stockholm archipelago
The Big Branzino floating sauna by Sandellsandberg opens to guests in the Stockholm archipelago
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
The Hat House is a retreat straight out of a Swedish fairy tale
The Hat House by Tina Bergman Architects takes its cues from Swedish fairy tales and the woods around it
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
‘A House’ is a minimalist Nordic cabin by emerging studio nāv
‘A House’ by studio nāv is an idyllic Nordic minimalist cabin
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Trakt Forest Hotel allows guests to float among the trees
Trakt Forest Hotel by Wingårdhs is an architectural, yet gentle Swedish hospitality venture that respects its forested Småland context
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Nordic architecture explored in Share, a book about contemporary building
Discussions about Nordic architecture and contemporary practice meet in a new book by Artifice, Share: Conversations about Contemporary Architecture – The Nordic Countries
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Måns Tham’s A-frame house is a considered ski lodge retreat
Swedish architect Måns Tham composed an idyllic A-frame house in the forested, northern landscapes of Edsåsdalen
By Shiori Kanazawa Last updated