Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS - Summer House

Under construction
Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS
Summer House
Hardanger Fjord, Norway

Text by Todd Saunders & Tommie Wilhelmsen:

This is our own personal project. We bought this site ourselves in order to create experimental architecture. The constant question for young architects is how to find clients willing to take a chance on enthusiastic architects with little experience.

Photo courtesy Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS

When we first started our firm, instead of going out looking for clients we went looking for a possible site to build an experimental structure. We found a site about 2 hours drive from Bergen in Hardanger, on the edge of one of Norway's most dramatic fjords. We bought the site from the last of
our savings and designed a structure that would be a part of the natural surroundings, yet in a sensitive contrast to the dramatic landscape.

Photo: Bent Renè Synnevåg

We divided this retreat into two parts: one for the function of eating and sleeping and another smaller room that could be used for whatever the user desired. A long thin floating outdoor floor connects these two parts. This outdoor floor made the space twice as large in the summer, and connected the two buildings, so that one could walk barefoot from one to the other. The front of this arrangement faces the fjords, but the inner space towards the mountain creates an evening space that can be complemented by a small fire.

Photo: Bent Renè Synnevåg

We are building both structures ourselves with a carpenter. We are now just finishing the smaller building of the two projects. In June we will start constructing the second longer structure. This longer structure will be finished in July. The house is quite environmental in that it is insulated with recycled newspapers and all trees are conserved and integrated into the project.

Drawing courtesy Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS

Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS

July 28, 2003





				Features
		Under construction Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS Summer House Hardanger Fjord, Norway Text by Todd Saunders & Tommie Wilhelmsen: This is our own personal project. We bought this site ourselves in order to create experimental architecture. The constant question for young architects is how to find clients willing to take a chance on enthusiastic architects with little experience. Photo courtesy Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS When we first started our firm, instead of going out looking for clients we went looking for a possible site to build an experimental structure. We found a site about 2 hours drive from Bergen in Hardanger, on the edge of one of Norway's most dramatic fjords. We bought the site from the last of our savings and designed a structure that would be a part of the natural surroundings, yet in a sensitive contrast to the dramatic landscape. Photo: Bent Renè Synnevåg We divided this retreat into two parts: one for the function of eating and sleeping and another smaller room that could be used for whatever the user desired. A long thin floating outdoor floor connects these two parts. This outdoor floor made the space twice as large in the summer, and connected the two buildings, so that one could walk barefoot from one to the other. The front of this arrangement faces the fjords, but the inner space towards the mountain creates an evening space that can be complemented by a small fire. Photo: Bent Renè Synnevåg Photo: Bent Renè Synnevåg We are building both structures ourselves with a carpenter. We are now just finishing the smaller building of the two projects. In June we will start constructing the second longer structure. This longer structure will be finished in July. The house is quite environmental in that it is insulated with recycled newspapers and all trees are conserved and integrated into the project. Drawing courtesy Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS Saunders & Wilhelmsen Arkitektur AS July 28, 2003