This Stockholm house cascades towards the Swedish seashore
A private Stockholm house by Ström Architects makes the most of its natural setting, while creating a serene haven for its owners

A cascading, private Stockholm house by the waterside is the latest residential offering by UK-based practice Ström Architects. Let by Swedish-born architect Magnus Ström, the studio is a deft hand when it comes to private commissions with immaculately minimalist and modernist architecture-influenced past examples spanning the Isle of Wight's Island Rest and a Gloucestershire house inspired by the 20th century's Case Study programme in California. The newest scheme is no exception, displaying a contemporary, pared-down aesthetic, blended here with lush Swedish nature.
Step inside this Stockholm house by Ström Architects
The home of a large local family after a quiet haven and retreat for privacy and calm, the house was largely also inspired by its green surroundings. Tall trees, ragged coastal rocks and water views come together in a design that emerges from its setting – albeit unmistakably human-made.
As you step in from the street side, a double-height hallway leads to a dramatic flowing living space of serene, long sea vistas. Forming an 'L' shape, this interior creates a 'hug' where an outdoor terrace is located for the owners to enjoy the warm summer days and nights al fresco.
'The board-marked concrete walls spanning two storeys, along with the cantilevered staircase, contribute to the dramatic visual impact and textural richness of the hallway,' says Ström.
The private rooms and sleeping quarters are located upstairs, making the most of the open views too through large, triple-glazed openings. Timber sliding screens provide privacy and solar shading to avoid overheating. This goal is also supported by the home's meticulous insulation, while a ground-source heat pump caters for heating when needed.
'This project allowed us to push the boundaries of innovative design and showcase our dedication to creating homes that harmonise with their environment,' concludes Ström.
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 & Environment Director 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), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
‘Fashion & Interiors: A Gendered Affair’ at MoMu unpacks the hierarchy of the home
The Antwerp exhibition interrogates the relationship between fashion, interiors and gender through the concept of ‘gesamtkunstwerk’, a complete work of art. Curator Romy Cockx gives Wallpaper* a tour
By Dal Chodha Published
-
Milan Design Week: Dropcity challenges detention space design with 'Prison Times'
Dropcity's inaugural exhibition 'Prison Times – Spatial Dynamics of Penal Environments', opens a few days before the launch of Milan Design Week and discusses penal environments and their spatial design
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
ICON 4x4 goes EV, giving their classic Bronco-based restomod an electric twist
The EV Bronco is ICON 4x4’s first foray into electrifying its range of bespoke vintage off-roaders and SUVs
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
This striking new vineyard is putting Swedish wine on the map
Berglund Arkitekter completes a new home for Kullabergs Vingård in Sweden's verdant Skåne country
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
‘Close to solitude, but with a neighbour’: Furu’s cabins in the woods are a tranquil escape
Taking its name from the Swedish word for ‘pine tree’, creative project management studio Furu is growing against the grain
By Siska Lyssens Published
-
Stockholm Wood City: inside the extraordinary timber architecture project
Stockholm Wood City is leading the way in timber architecture; we speak to the people behind it to find out the who, what, why and how of the project
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A bold new water tower by White Arkitekter strides across the Swedish landscape
The Våga Water Tower in Varberg is a monument to civil engineering, a functional concrete sculpture that's designed to last for centuries
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
This Swedish summer house is a family's serene retreat by the trees and the Baltic sea
Horsö, a Swedish summer house by Atelier Alba is a playfully elegant retreat by the Kalmarsund Sea and a natural reserve
By Smilian Cibic Published
-
Explore wood architecture, Paris' new timber tower and how to make sustainable construction look ‘iconic’
A new timber tower brings wood architecture into sharp focus in Paris and highlights ways to craft buildings that are both sustainable and look great: we spoke to project architects LAN, and explore the genre through further examples
By Amy Serafin Published
-
Cabin Kiladalen in Sweden takes architectural reuse to the next level
Cabin Kiladalen by Vardehaugen started its life in an Oslo exhibition, but has now found a second life as a Swedish lakeside retreat
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Vemdalen Villas brings contemporary minimalism to the skiing experience
The family of dwellings at Vemdalen Villas, designed by architecture studio Hesselbrand, creates a contemporary skiing experience in the Swedish countryside
By Ellie Stathaki Published