Cosy little spot: Guest house in Norway

»A house needs no more than 15 m²« is the claim made by Saunders Architecture, realized here as a cosy oasis occupying a tiny space. In the Norwegian town of Haugesund, the architects have created a small house in their clients’ garden. Amid old plum trees, the cabin invites guests to relax a while.

Architect: Saunders Architecture, Bergen, Norway
Location: 5501 Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway

The clients wanted a small guest house in their own garden. The architects responded to this wish with a sensitive yet unusual design. The existing plum trees have been cleverly integrated into the concept: they grow undisturbed through the terrace, thus becoming a seemingly natural component of the structure.

With its triangular silhouette, this garden house among the trees is a real eye-catcher. Like a cut-out, the spacious terrace interrupts the house’s overall sculptural form. Furnished with a hammock in the shade of the trees, this area is sure to make an idyllic summer retreat. A white, vertically clad wooden façade surrounds the terrace and contrasts with the black outer shell of the house. The interior is done in white and subtle pastels. This minimal inner space is home to a comfortable bedroom, a small bathroom and a central kitchen which can be opened onto the terrace by means of a sliding door.

With this small but succinct project, Saunders Architecture have proven that limited space and funds are no limit to either creativity or quality. The building’s triangular shape gives it a striking silhouette. The set-in terrace offers a clearly defined area for contented hours of relaxation.

Project data

Usable space: 15 m²
Completion: 2014
Team: Todd Saunders, Attila Béres, Adam Siemaszkiewicz
Client: Steinar Jørgensen
Landscape architecture: Saunders Architecture
Carpenters: Bygg Smart AS, 4296 Åkrehamn