We recently spotted his summer house on the coast of Vestfold in southern Norway in the Private Houses category for the upcoming World Architecture Festival Awards.

Covering 300 square metres, the new structure was designed by Jarmund Vigsnæs Architects and replaces an older building at the site.

To get the planning permit, the project had to be well adjusted to the terrain, both in terms of shape, scale, material and colour.

The house and terraces are partly built upon existing stone walls, the parts of the walls which are new are made of stones from the blasting at the site.

The low elongated volume is cut into to allow for wind shielded outdoor areas, embraced by the house itself.

These cuts also bring down the scale of the building, and together with the local variations of the section, make the building relate to the surrounding cliff formations. The house is clad with Kebony wood, a sustainable process of treating the wood to allow for good durability towards the exposure to salt water.

On the outer perimeter of terraces and pool, a glass fence also protects against wind, but importantly, allows for maximum view.

Photography Nils Petter Dale.