On the northern edge of a Norwegian fjord, in the town of Ålesund, a building has been constructed which, according to its designers, is intended to resemble a fragment of the surrounding landscape rather than a classic residential building. The 16-06 House project was carried out on a plot of land covered with trees and gently sloping down towards the water. The house in Norway was designed by Maksymilian Sawicki’s OFFICE INAINN in collaboration with Kinga Małycha. The architecture of the building does not dominate the landscape, but follows it, taking advantage of the natural slope, the cover of greenery and the picturesque proximity of the fjord.
Landscape as a starting point
The almost square plot offered a rare combination of privacy, wind protection and direct contact with the water. Instead of interfering with the terrain, the designers adopted its natural relief as the basis for the entire concept. As a result, the house takes the form of a cascade of concrete blocks that gradually descend with the slope of the ground. This solution influences the appearance of the building and the daily functioning of its residents, organising the relationship between the interior and the surroundings.
House in Norway – plan
A key decision in the design was to plan the house as a set of autonomous residential modules, each of which is located at a slightly different level. This creates a clear gradation of space. The lower parts remain close to the ground and vegetation, offering more intimate, sheltered interiors. The higher areas, on the other hand, open up to wide views of the fjord. The whole is enclosed in a massive reinforced concrete shell with an area of approximately 200 square metres.
The path instead of the form
The house was designed as a series of successive spaces, rather than a homogeneous object to be viewed from a single point. From the road, there is a descent to a semi-open courtyard, shaped by an L-shaped projection. This zone acts as a filter between the public space and the private life of the residents. Further on, the interior gradually turns towards the fjord. Movement follows the slope of the terrain, from more enclosed rooms sunk into the ground to those elevated with extensive glazing. Light, views and directions of movement are precisely guided by the architecture.
A house in Norway and its geometry
Simple geometry serves as a tool for organising light access, the degree of shelter and exposure to the surroundings. Horizontal window strips emphasise the stepped layout of the structure, and the shifts in individual volumes create deep arcades that provide protection from the weather and accentuate the entrance sequence.
Concrete as the foundation of durability
The house is constructed of monolithic reinforced concrete with prestressed elements, chosen for its structural clarity and resistance to the demanding conditions of the coastal climate. This form of construction has made it possible to achieve large, open interiors and smooth transitions between zones. The concrete shell guarantees the longevity of the building with limited maintenance requirements, which is also in line with the principles of responsible design.
OFFICEINAINN
The OFFICE INAINN studio perceives architecture as a process resulting from a dialogue with the environment. The studio’s projects develop in response to specific relationships between landscape, culture and the everyday lives of users. Inspired by the Scandinavian approach to simplicity, functionality and sustainability, the projects aim to reduce environmental impact while offering durable and harmonious living spaces.
Project name: 16-06 HOUSE
Studio: OFFICEINAINN
Architects: Maksymilian Sawicki, Kinga Małycha
Photographs: Maksymilian Sawicki
Location: Ålesund, Norway
Area: 200 sq m
Read also: Single-family house|Norway | Concrete | Ecology|whiteMAD on Instagram
