On the remote island of Vega in the Norwegian Sea sits an isolated hideaway for three siblings. Vega Cottage, by Stockholm-based practice Kolman Boye Architects, was built as a haven for the clients to rediscover the area where they spent summers as children exploring the wild Nordic terrain. Photography: Åke E:son Lindman
The architects' intention was to create a modern boathouse - known locally as a naust - inspired by local architecture and materials, such as aged timber cladding for the façade
Large, panoramic windows throughout the house bathe the airy spaces in natural light, complemented by pale, neutral palettes
'The simple quality of the traditional shoreline huts, which families have used for storing fishing equipment, was the inspiration for the [cottage's] contemporary-vernacular design,' says architect and practice co-founder Erik Kolman Janouch
The interior - split across two levels, into two buildings - follows the natural topography of the landscape
The whitewashed wood walls were intentionally left untreated to emphasise the ageing process of the timber planks, while also communicating a handmade aspect
The generous windows face in three directions, looking out towards dramatic Trollvasstind Mountain, the lonely vista and the icy Norwegian Sea. Janouch explains, 'Looking out one of the windows, you sit and watch an ever-changing wild landscape'
