Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter has recently built a minimal cabin on an outcrop beside the Beitstadfjorden in Norway. Title Cabin Rones, the retreat was commissioned by a couple who wanted an essential space to relax and enjoy views of the near fjord. Measuring 47 square meters, the cabin with its compact footprint adapts to the landscape and preserves the site and its vegetation. “The cabin is inspired by the natural space that was at the site before the building was constructed. A big rock on the site became the back of the building, offering a natural shelter,” explained John Sanden, partner at Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter.
The ground floor is made from concrete and staggered over three levels in line with the terrain and comprises a living area, dining room, and kitchen. It is fronted by large windows that create “close contact to the nature outside”, and the dining area opens out to a wooden terrace. The upper level is built from locally sourced cross-laminated timber (CLT). It has a triangular form clad in black roofing felt to reference vernacular buildings.
On the ground floor, the interiors are characterized by its exposed concrete walls and polished concrete floors that are teamed with light-colored fittings in Norwegian pine. The upper story is lined entirely in the same pine wood, offering a light counterpoint to the ground floor spaces.
The furnishing is made out of birch plywood. Gutter and other outdoor details are made in untreated copper and will darken with time. The cabin has a sheltering atmosphere with its protective back wall in concrete and its open glass facade facing the fjord.
