General Information

Floor area: approx. 800 m², 3 storeys
Location: Tromsø
Phases: Concept design, planning application
Client: Private client
Illustrations: Ihor Mrachkovskyi

A journey through light, shadow, proximity, and silence

The building's footprint follows the property boundaries, building limits, and the 4-metre distance to the neighbour. It is extended towards the south to accommodate all the functions a family with three children requires. The lower ground floor is excavated into the slope, allowing the garden level to open up towards the south. This provides effective terrain adaptation and better utilisation of the plot. Parking is resolved on the lower ground floor, freeing up more green space around the house. Additionally, this floor houses storage, a plant room, as well as a spa and gym with access to the garden. The south-facing outdoor living area ensures optimal sun conditions.

The atrium as an architectural and social heart

The core of the house is an atrium – a sheltered and private outdoor space for socialising. An overhead terrace provides shelter from both weather and the barbecue area, and shields parts of the atrium from precipitation. The house opens towards the west with large glazed areas, where there are no neighbours (approx. 40 metres distance), whilst the façades facing east and north have smaller windows to safeguard the privacy of surrounding homes.

The layout divides the house in two: the children's area to the north and the parents' zone to the south. These are connected via a corridor with a staircase. To the north, there are three children's rooms and a playroom, whilst the south contains the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, and terrace. An angled wall and timber slats screen against the neighbour to the east. The atrium is shaded when the sun is in the south; therefore, an additional terrace facing directly south has been included to ensure good sun conditions.

On the ground floor, the living room, cloakroom, and laundry room are located to the north, with the kitchen and dining room to the south. The entire floor can be opened towards the atrium with sliding doors that blur the boundary between outdoors and indoors, enabling both children and adults to interact with the outdoor space in daily life.

Natural materials, daylight, and flexible solutions

The kitchen and dining room feature large glazed areas admitting sun into the atrium. In the corridor between the zones, vertical timber slats are integrated facing east, which can be controlled automatically – opening for sun or closing completely when privacy is needed. This balances the consideration for both light and overlooking.

The solution also includes options for smart glass and internal blinds for further flexibility. These measures limit overlooking from the path running parallel to the house, without obstructing light intake.

The material palette consists of light and dark grey brick – robust, energy-efficient, and low-maintenance. The vertical timber details add warmth and contrast to the modern expression. The atrium, with a tree in the centre, becomes both a symbol and a functional part of the philosophy: bringing nature into the home.

The architecture is developed to provide more than just function – here, a spatial journey through light, shadow, proximity, and silence emerges. The home is conceived as an architectural experience where movement between zones creates space for both community and privacy.