Now here’s some cool modern cabin style! Clad in pine inside and out, this compact residence by Mork Ulnes Architects features a pinwheel-shaped plan to frame four different views of the wintry landscape. Not only does this result in a highly unusual house shape, it gives each individual wing of home additional privacy along with its own private outdoor space.
Measuring just 940 square feet and surrounded by towering pines, this home outside Oslo was designed as a retreat for a geologist and his family. The architects explain that “Mylla Hytte” takes its shape from the forces of the landscape around it.
“Though planning regulations required a gable roof, Mylla splits the gable in half to create four shed roofs that radiate in a pinwheel configuration. Two sheltered outdoor spaces are created which are protected from the wind and from snow shed. The exterior is clad simply with untreated heart pine planks, which register the seasons as it grays and weathers with time.”
“The compact interior, finished in plywood and unified with a continuous roof canopy, can house up to ten people across three dedicated bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Custom plywood furniture, including bed frames, bunk beds, couch, dining table, benches and shelves are found throughout.”
“The wings of the house engage four distinct characters of the landscape: the great room looks onto Mylla Lake, the guest room looks toward the rolling hillside, the kids’ room looks up at the sky, and the bedroom has a private view of the towering forest beyond.”
It’s always cool to see how different architects interpret pine and all of its possibilities, and there’s no denying that the material really shines in this simple yet playful form.
