pine architecture Archives - Page 2 of 7

Norway’s Dramatic New Viewpoint is Clad in Whitewashed Pine Panels

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

In Norway, the scenic roads criss-crossing the rugged Arctic landscape are dotted with sculptural viewpoints that combine modern architecture and the natural beauty of the environment. Technically, these buildings are just rest stops, but there’s nothing average or perfunctory about them. They’re often bold and dramatic, becoming destinations in their own right. The Norwegian Scenic Routes project is set to have 200 picnic areas and viewpoints by 2023 with another 50 projects planned through 2029.

Some of these viewpoints jut out over the forest to gaze upon fjords. Others perch on the edge of mountains, or wind through rocky ledges on the coast. A new one in the country’s extreme northeast called Domen Viewpoint makes a memorable statement with a design inspired by telescopes. Set on a mountain peak in Vardø at Europe’s easternmost point, the structure, designed by Biotope, consists of three small structures with jagged white shapes that will blend into the snow in winter.

Biotope covered the outside of these structures with whitewashed pine panels, which will weather over time until their texture takes on a mottled quality similar to the rocky ledge they sit upon. Many structures in Scandinavia are made of pine, which grows locally and is prized there for the same reasons people love it here: its warmth, character, strength, straightness and ease of use. Inside the lookout, Biotope used Norwegian-made kebony wood, a modified, sustainably sourced softwood strengthened by heating the wood with furfural alcohol, an agricultural byproduct.

The dark interiors contrast with the white pine exteriors, creating dynamic lines that stand out even when the lookout is camouflaged by snow during the region’s long winters. Pink-tinted glass gives the views a rosy glow.

The architects are well known for creating structures like this. They’ve produced many pine lookouts, hiking shelters and bird hides, all designed to marry contemporary shapes and natural materials with scenic places. The firm says that for them, architecture is “a tool to protect and promote birds, wildlife and nature,” an approach that comes through in their work.

Office Envisioned as a “Wooden Box Floating on Air”

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

Challenged to build a beautiful, light-filled office on a narrow lot, architecture firm Atelier N turned to pine to craft a highly unusual structure that looks like it’s floating on air.

The base area of the building measures a mere 355 square feet, but the interior feels surprisingly spacious and open thanks to the clever design. The top half, clad in wooden shingles, rests on a zig-zag of pine lumber enclosed by glass. The pine supports the load, allowing for a nearly unbroken expanse of glass on all sides.

Though it looks like a second floor from outside, the upper half of the building is actually a lid of sorts, like a box with the bottom cut off. It provides protection from the sun when it’s directly overhead in the heat of summer, but allows daylight penetration year-round, reducing heating costs in winter. Set on the edge of a rice field, the office takes advantage of a natural cooling effect fro the water.

“The rural scenery passes through the building from the front road, and a quiet scenery spreads from the interior,” says the architect. “And the wind from the rice field goes through the room. Also, since this area is like a village of old farmers, neighbors greet me through the glass because I have been with them since I was born.”

Inside, the pine is lightly finished, allowing its natural beauty to shine through and bringing some texture and warmth to structure otherwise comprised of glass, metal and concrete.

A ladder leads up to a small loft, where a mattress offers a place to rest and nap, and a hatch door opens to let out any accumulated heat. The rest of the space is occupied by desks, lounge areas and a conference table. Sheer curtains can be drawn for privacy or to soften the incoming sunlight, if necessary.

The whole project was achieved on a low budget, and although it’s a modern structure wedged between two more traditional houses, the office avoids detracting from the pastoral scenery.

Pine-Clad Holiday Home Vibes with a Peaceful Seaside Setting

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Jeff Easterling

Pine remains hugely popular with designers and architects seeking a modern yet warm and natural feel. This pine-clad summer house on a rocky island outcrop offers some beautiful inspiration for cabins, cottages and seaside getaways made of renewable materials.

Designed by Studio Holmberg and set on an island off Sweden’s archipelago of Gothenburg, Villa Vassdal was commissioned as a dreamy second home for a retired couple who wanted to take in views of the sea. The architects chose untreated pine to cover the entire exterior because it will turn silver over time, virtually camouflaged within the surrounding cliffs.

“The house is built on an island with historical connections to Gothenburg’s fishing and shipping industries. Today the island consists of family houses that are occupied year-round as well as holiday homes that are mostly used in the summer. Overlooking the sea and surrounded by exposed cliffs and wild vegetation, the house’s low profile is made up of a cluster of pitched roof volumes. Arranged in a staggered layout, the volumes are designed to blend in with the rocky landscape.”

“The house is oriented so that the clean-lined interior spaces take in views of the sea but are also shielded from the neighbors and the glare of the sun. Each of the four volumes that make up the house are allocated a specific function. The first is for sleeping and bathing as well as storage, the second is for cooking and dining, and the third is for the living room. The fourth smaller volume at the back functions as a tool shed but is also used as a summer guest room for the clients’ grandchildren.”

Inside, pale pine floors are set against smooth birch plywood walls and ceilings for a clean, minimalist effect that’s very Scandinvian. Perhaps the simplicity of the all-wood-and-white color palette isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great match for the moody seaside atmosphere, especially in summer when the cottage is most often in use.

Check out some more fun modern pine designs:

https://easternwhitepine.org/vertical-pine-gives-this-fun-home-addition-a-modern-look/

https://easternwhitepine.org/this-modern-pine-home-takes-inspiration-from-traditional-barn-raisings/

https://easternwhitepine.org/modern-pine-cantilevered-home-redefines-rural-architecture/

La Dacha Mountain Refuge: Creating a Cozy Ski Getaway with Pine

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Jeff Easterling

A modern ski retreat juts out from the hillside, clad inside and out with pine. La Dacha Mountain Refuge has two dramatically different looks depending on the season, blending into the surrounding vegetation for most of the year and standing out in sharp relief when the snow blankets the landscape.

Set among the Nevados de Chillan volcanic complex in Las Trancas, Chile, the refuge points oversized glass facades to the view, creating a sort of telescopic shape originating at the rear entrance. The vertical V-shaped dwelling is designed to follow the sun’s movements towards the north and west (being, of course, in the Southern Hemisphere.) A lot of attention was paid to thermal efficiency to make sure it stays warm and cozy in winter.

Private rooms are tucked down in the lower stories among the trees, while the public spaces like the living room and kitchen get to enjoy the best views at the top.

“In the middle floor is the entrance level that portrays a masonry stove or kachelofen, a wood stove that stores the required heat for the house in the thick brick walls, requiring a single load of wood a day with several benefits. This ancient technique common in central Europe becomes a prototype for Southern Chile where wood consumption and pollution are becoming crucial issues. The refuge is moduled in an array 122 x 244 cmts, the measures of the SIP board system. The panel where brought on a single day and assembled swiftly onsite during the warm months.”

For the exterior, DRR architects employed “yakisugi,” also known as “shou sugi ban,” the Japanese technique of charring boards to carbonize them, protecting against damage from insects and weather effects. Learn more about how “burning wood to make it fireproof” works.

https://easternwhitepine.org/burning-wood-to-make-it-fireproof-the-science-behind-shou-sugi-ban/

https://easternwhitepine.org/shou-sugi-ban-japanese-technique-makes-pine-wood-waterproof-with-fire/

Contemporary Pine Cabin Retreat Complete with Floating Boardwalks

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Jeff Easterling

With a gorgeous setting in the heathlands of South Africa, home to one of the world’s most delicate ecosystems, this complex of vacation cabins had to be low-impact on the land while making the most of the views. KLG Architects created a series of pine cabins connected by a floating boardwalk that protects the sensitive vegetation of the “fynbos,” a belt of natural scrubland in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.

Fynbos is full of endemic plant and animal species, meaning they’re found nowhere else on Earth. One area called Table Mountain has more species of plants than the entire British Isles. With a Mediterranean climate, many colorful flowers and steep, dramatic mountains, it’s a truly special place. The architects wanted to highlight the beauty of these surroundings with lots of glass, and materials that augment nature instead of contrasting with it.

“Pine was chosen as the most suitable building material because it is lightweight, readily available, and will fade to grey and blend into the natural landscape over time. The timber construction methodology allows the cabins to “float” over the fynbos. The foundations are restricted to small concrete pad foundations, which limits the impact on the ground, and the environment. The raised cabins allow ground water, the local fauna, insects and snakes uninterrupted routes under the cabins.”

“The units are designed to respond to the area’s weather and climate. Careful consideration of orientation allows scenic views and wind protection. High specification insulation panels in the walls, roof and floor keep the units cool in summer and warm in winter. Timber slatted sun screens on the pergolas control the summer sun over the decks. Large gabion walls which house the built-in braai’s also provide cooling through thermal massing. Carefully chosen indigenous endemic grasses are planted on the roof in roof trays that allow for easy maintenance. The mass of the soil improves the thermal qualities of the roof.”

The cabins were placed in areas where they’d have the lowest possible impact on the ground, and off-grid technology like dry composting toilets and purified river water eliminates the need for utilities. The effect of the complex is modern, but in a way that’s drawn from South African architectural history, and the pine will help them fit seamlessly into the environment as they age.

Church Made of Slatted Pine Lets the Sunshine Stream Inside

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Jeff Easterling

It may not have any windows, but “Sun-Pu Church” certainly isn’t lacking in light. Designed by Tokyo-based architect Taira Nishizawa and constructed in Shizuoka, Japan, the church is pretty odd-looking from the outside, revealing its stunning interior to those curious (or faithful) enough to step within.

It’s rare to see a church quite this minimalist in style. Most people associate churches with ornate architectural details, stained glass and iconography, but there’s no such thing to be found here. The entire interior of the structure is made of slatted pine, which is spaced farther and farther apart as it reaches the ceiling. There, diagonal slats open to massive skylights overhead, casting shadows inside that change according to the position of the sun.

The decision to eschew windows was strategic. Nishizawa had to consider the location on a busy road just beside a noisy railroad track, and didn’t want worshippers to be distracted by the outside world during services or prayer.

“The Church Sun-Pu required specific spatial qualities,” says the architect. “Just thinking functionally about a church, it’s not much different from a classroom. But the space must feel very different, so I needed a strategy to control that environment directly…I manipulated the performance of the external walls and roof to control the light and sound conditions, which are what distinguishes a church from a normal classroom or meeting place.”

“I manipulated the performance of the external walls and roof to control the light and sound conditions, which are what distinguishes a church from a normal classroom or meeting place.”