Archipelago House

The wooden structure of Archipelago House is harmoniously merged with the surrounding nature and draws inspiration from the local building traditions found in boathouses on the rocky shores. Set into the cliff, the house consists of four wooden volumes interlocked and connected by a terraced wooden deck that follows the sloping plot.

Furthermore, the interior follows the sloping terrain and the different spaces in the house are connected by internal steps and stairs that connect the 5 different levels of the house.
The color and material-scheme is kept in natural, muted high-end materials that reflect the nature outside.
There is not only a direct connection and transparency between inside and outside in this house, but also a more symbolic connection in terms of material and color use.

With inspiration found in both Nordic building traditions and a Japanese sensibility in aesthetics and craftsmanship, this project has aimed to achieve the best of both worlds; a combination of Scandinavian coziness with warm textures and soft furniture, while maintaining the elegance of Japanese decor.
While both styles have a focus on the utilitarian, it has been important to maintain a zen-like sense of calm in this house where the emphasis is on the life being led and the nature surrounding it.

The house is a plethora of natural materials, muted colors, clean lines, and minimal, yet well-curated, furnishings – all made from beautiful craftsmanship with a focus on quality and handmade pieces.

The main living space of the house is a double-high room divided in the middle by a large industrial kitchen island. On one side is a lounge area with a stunning framed view of the rocky hill with all its cracks and colorful organic mosses. On the other side a dining area faces the outdoor terrace and can be completely connected through folding doors that slide to one side.

All storage and functional elements of the kitchen are built into the wall facing the rock and creates a wooden internal facade that stretches in the full length of the space to maximize storage and reduce clutter.

The lighting collection has been designed bespoke for the Archipelago House to tell the story of the manufacturing collaboration between Karimoku and Kojima Shouten. Karimoku being the leading wooden furniture manufacturer in Japan and Kojima Shouten being a 220 year old Kyoto based lantermaker.

The shape of the beautiful pendant mimics the architecture of the summerhouse, that with its high and triangular shaped roof construction, needs light being spread not only down, but also up and to the sides. The bottom of the lamp has been covered with a single piece of Washi paper, which is cleverly held in place by a few magnets, making it easy to disassemble it, should you need to change the bulb.