Oslo is in a state of transformation. With a wealth of cultural, residential and commercial projects currently underway, the face of the Norwegian capital is changing. But change is not all about larger scale projects - this new house by local architecture practice Narud Stokke Wiig (NSW) is one of the city's smaller, but nonetheless stylish additions.
Take an interactive tour of Wothouse
The project, located in the northern outskirts of Oslo, sits within a suburban cluster of mostly 1930s villas, which has been slowly poised for densification since the capital's expansion. In keeping with this theme, the house is situated in an inventive, if rather suprising site: the backyard of another property - one that the clients (a family of five) has owned for generations.
Aiming for a more contemporary style that would remain respectful of its close surroundings, the architects proposed a simple, compact box, with a clean rectilinear outline firmly 'rooted to the ground'. Spanning three floors - two above-ground and a basement level - the house is punctured by strategically-placed windows, cut out of the building's dark brick-clad skin. These flood the interior with light, together with a skylight located right above the central staircase and a light well that brings the sun into the basement.
Inside, the layout is arranged in a simple way. One floor hosts the communal areas (kitchen, dining and living rooms are on the ground floor) and the remaining two hold the more private ones (the family bedrooms and a playroom are situated on the first floor, while the lower ground offers some further accommodation). Contrasting the exterior's darker colouring, the interior features a much softer palette, consisting mostly of white walls and a minimal, light-coloured, untreated spruce timber flooring throughout.
Combining modern Scandinavian style with a considered approach to Oslo's urban needs, Wothouse is a contemporary family house thriving in its unusual setting.
Contrasting the exterior's darker colouring, the interior features a much softer palette, consisting mostly of white walls
Light-coloured, untreated spruce timber flooring throughout contrasts with the bold use of raw concrete in Wothouse
Blending modern Scandinavian style with a considered approach to its surroundings, Wothouse proves itself as part of the new face of Norwegian suburbia
A skylight above the central staircase floods the interior with natural light
Even the basement gets some sunshine, thanks to a light well
Aiming for a contemporary house that would remain respectful of its context, the architects opted for a simple, compact box shape
The house is punctured by strategically-placed windows, cut out of the building's dark brick skin
It is located, somewhat unusually, in the backyard of another property, which has belonged to the clients for generations
-
Perfumer H has bottled the scent of dandelions blowing in the windPerfumer H has debuted a new fragrance for spring, called Dandelion. Lyn Harris tells Wallpaper* about the process of its creation
-
The best fashion moments at Milan Design Week 2024Scarlett Conlon discovers the moments fashion met design at Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2024, as Loewe, Hermès, Bottega Veneta, Prada and more staged intriguing presentations and launches across the city
-
LEVC’s L380 is a truly magnificent minivanThe London Electric Vehicle Company’s L380, is a magnificent minivan designed for upscale long-distance travel, as the maker of the London Taxi branches out into all-purpose EVs
-
Aarestua Cabin brings old Norwegian traditions into the 21st centuryAarestua Cabin by Gartnerfuglen is a modern retreat with links to historical Norwegian traditions, and respect for its environment
-
Pioneering tablet maker reMarkable’s Oslo headquarters is a space for ‘better thinking’reMarkable’s Oslo head office, featuring areas to retreat, ruminate and collaborate, is a true workspace of the future
-
This Norway cabin was designed as a minimalist, coastal escapeThis Norway cabin by Erling Berg is made of local timber that frames its scenic Risør views through large openings and outdoor areas, creating a cool summer escape
-
This Oslo house is a suburban cabin in the woodsAn Oslo house designed like a retreat, Villa Nikkesmelle by Gartnerfuglen, offers the perfect balance between urban and rural
-
Restored former US embassy in Oslo brings Eero Saarinen’s vision into the 21st centuryThe former US embassy in Oslo by Finnish American modernist Eero Saarinen has been restored to its 20th-century glory and transformed for contemporary mixed use
-
Tommie Wilhelmsen’s cabin on Norway’s wild coast frames the experience of the landscapeTommie Wilhelmsen has completed a new cabin close to the city of Stavanger, a retreat in the heart of a historic coastal landscape
-
Aurora 2.0 is the perfect woodland retreat to take in the Northern LightsAurora 2.0 by architect Snorre Stinessen in Norway is an architectural retreat with a spectacular view of nature and the Northern Lights
-
This modest cabin is the perfect way to experience Norwegian natureA modest cabin by KIMA arkitektur in Norway makes the most of its dramatic, natural landscape through simplicity
