The cabin in the woods holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the Nordic nations; and the Norwegians are a case in point. Called ‘hytte’, the Norwegian countryside cabins are as popular as ever in the Scandinavian nation, and a typology Norwegian-born and US-based architect Casper Mork-Ulnes knows well.
His latest project, created by his San Francisco and Oslo-based firm Mork-Ulnes Architects, is Mylla Cabin, a timber structure set on the Mylla Lake within a forest, a short drive north of Oslo.
Designed as a nature retreat for a geologist and his family, where they can spend the mild summers of Norway and go on skiing trips in the winter, the structure sits on a hilltop, set against the leafy context. This is a relatively generous structure, as cabins go, spanning 84 sq m and including flowing open plan living spaces, as well as two bedrooms, a bunkroom for the children, two compact bathrooms, a small annex for ski waxing, bike and ski storage, and a two-person sauna.
Efficient design was important to the clients, as was a strong connection to the outdoors; so the architects worked with untreated pine and plywood to create a warm, welcoming skin and bespoke furniture inside and out. A pinwheel shaped floorplan means that large windows could be carved out in every room and the structure could be orientated so that it makes the most out of the views towards the lake, field and forest.
Maintaining the traditional ‘hytte’ feel of simplicity and proximity to nature and natural materials, but bringing the structure into the 21st century in order to satisfy the modern family’s needs, Mork-Ulnes Architects updated the typology with large windows, high ceilings, modern yet familiar materials and smart design.
Offering a wide panorama of its surroundings, while cocooning its residents in comfort and efficiency, Mylla Cabin is a thoroughly modern cabin at one with nature. ‘The untreated pine exterior is intended to turn silver over time – blending with the snow in winter and aging with grace in the forested landscape,’ says Mork-Ulnes.
The cabin is situated in the Norwegian forest.
The structure is clad in untreated pine, echoing the traditional Norwegian cabin.
The project’s pinwheel floorplan helps create optimum orientation for views
Inside, the cabin offers ample accomodation for a geologist and his family.
The open plan living room and kitchen is clad in timber, cosy and perfect for winter skiing trips.
Custom plywood furniture can be found throughout.
The relatively generous cabin includes three bedrooms and two compact bathrooms...
...as well as a bunkroom for the children.
INFORMATION
For more information visit the website of Mork-Ulnes Architects
-
A new Athens gallery is a celebration of old and new, a stone's throw from the AcropolisNew Athens gallery Melas Martinos by Local Local is a contemporary art space, a stone's throw from the Acropolis, in the Greek capital's Monastiraki neighbourhood
-
Haute Couture Week A/W 2025: live updates from the Wallpaper* teamFrom 7-9 July, Haute Couture Week A/W 2025 arrives in Paris. Follow along for a first look at the shows, presentations and other fashion happenings, as seen by the Wallpaper* editors
-
Boundaries between art and life dissolve in Katherine Hubbard's intimate documentation of her mother's illnessIn 'The Great Room', Katherine Hubbard merges caregiving for her mother with an unflinching documentary of the process
-
A Rancho Mirage home is in tune with its location and its architect-owners' passionsArchitect Steven Harris and his collaborator and husband, designer Lucien Rees Roberts have built a home in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by some of America’s most iconic mid-century modern works; they invited us on a tour
-
Inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House – a project built with accessibility at its heartThe dwelling, which you can visit in Illinois, is a classic example of Wright’s Usonian architecture, and was also built for a client with a disability long before accessibility was widely considered
-
Tour this fire-resilient minimalist weekend retreat in CaliforniaA minimalist weekend retreat was designed as a counterpoint to a San Francisco pied-à-terre; Edmonds + Lee Architects’ Amnesia House in Napa Valley is a place for making memories
-
A New Zealand house on a rugged beach exemplifies architect Tom Kundig's approach in rich, yet understated luxuryThis coastal home, featured in 'Tom Kundig: Complete Houses', a new book launch in the autumn by Monacelli Press, is a perfect example of its author's approach to understated luxury. We spoke to Tom Kundig, the architect behind it
-
Tour architect Paul Schweikher’s house, a Chicago midcentury masterpieceNow hidden in the Chicago suburbs, architect Paul Schweikher's former home and studio is an understated midcentury masterpiece; we explore it, revisiting a story from the Wallpaper* archives, first published in April 2009
-
The world of Bart Prince, where architecture is born from the inside outFor the Albuquerque architect Bart Prince, function trumps form, and all building starts from the inside out; we revisit a profile from the Wallpaper* archive, first published in April 2009
-
Is embracing nature the key to a more fire-resilient Los Angeles? These landscape architects think soFor some, an executive order issued by California governor Gavin Newsom does little to address the complexities of living within an urban-wildland interface
-
Hop on this Fire Island Pines tour, marking Pride Month and the start of the summerA Fire Island Pines tour through the work of architecture studio BOND is hosted by The American Institute of Architects New York in celebration of Pride Month; join the fun
