Architecture

THE GJØVIK HOUSE

19th January 2018

If, like me, you’re already an admirer of the Copenhagen-based Norm Architects – the home of Norm’s co-founder Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen has been a favourite of mine since I first laid eyes on its restrained and elegant interior – then any new project from the practice is going to demand attention. And, as these photos show, the Gjøvik House in Norway is another beautiful example of Norm Architects’ understated approach.

Located an hour’s drive north of Oslo, on a hillside with views over the Mjøsa lake, the latest project by the Danish practice offers a study in restrained design achieved through simple detailing and a beautiful use of materials. The Gjøvik House is a modern and minimal cluster house that’s been conceived to merge seamlessly with its natural environment. Consisting of six overlapping cubes of different sizes, the arrangement creates an interior filled with cosy nooks and crannies, and with a continuously surprising flow of space.

Moving through the house, the eye wanders from one room to the next, and the effect is of interconnected space, both internally and in the way the interior connects to the ever-shifting views, as the landscape itself infuses this living space with life.

Having thoroughly considered the climate in the process of designing the house, the idea behind this approach was to create a home that would offer tactile warmth in the choice of materials and finishes – cosy minimalism, if you like; a place that would invite you in to take shelter from the coldest days of the Nordic winter. Floor becomes wall and wall becomes floor in a backdrop of concrete and wood, with subtle tones of mellow grey and timber finishes, and the majority of furniture is bespoke and built-in, which adds to the quiet character of this family home.

As the architects explain: “The modern cluster house gives you the sensation of being together, when not necessarily being in the same room, with thresholds defined by switching levels and materials. Beautifully blending in with its harsh yet peaceful surroundings – with its humble structure and cosy cubes – the house showcases the epitome of hygge.”

The house follows the slope in its composition and faces the spectacular view towards Mjøsa lake. Selected views are framed in windows spread out between the cubes, while the kitchen, being the physical and social centre of this house, is bathed in light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides.

The narrow façade cladding of vertical timber planks will eventually fade to silvery tones with age and weathering, helping the house blend further with the landscape over time.

As the practice says on their website: “Much like human well-being, the essence of Norm Architects’ work is found in balance – between richness and restraint, between order and complexity. Each project—whether architecture, interiors, design or creative direction – is imbued with the same intrinsic quality: a simplicity that carries bigger ideas. Guided by the body and mind rather than by trends or technology, our projects explore ideas that not only look good but that also feel good.”

And this ethos is summed up in the Gjøvik House, a home that may be dramatic in its setting but which offers a quiet sanctuary for the mind and an escape from the elements once inside.

All photography via Norm Architects.

See more from Norm Architects here.