Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jun 30, 2025

A Cedar-Clad Cabin With a Glass “Sunroof” Rises on a Hillside in Norway

A Cedar-Clad Cabin With a Glass “Sunroof” Rises on a Hillside in Norway

Along the Nordic nation’s southeast coast, Line Solgaard Arkitekter creates a magical family getaway that stands in symbiosis with its surroundings.

In Norway, cabin life is a guiding pleasure principle-many Norwegians own or have access to remote hyttes that serve as back-to-nature retreats. When architect Line Solgaard, founder of the eponymous Oslo- and Fredrikstad-based firm, started planning a getaway for her family in the place where she grew up, the design quickly became a group affair.



"The whole family came up with their wishes for this place, and we had a lot of interesting discussions," Line says. "We all agreed about using natural, lasting materials that age with grace."

Weekend House Fredrikstad is located about 600 feet from the sea on a rocky slope carpeted with pine and oak trees-most of which were preserved during the home’s construction. The cabin only occupies the northeastern section of the site, which leaves a large portion of the waterfront area for outdoor living spaces, which are designed to fit organically into the existing terrain.



The home’s concrete base was cast in place, and it has a hue similar to that of the mountain itself. It’s designed to age with a patina that will help it further blend into the environment. Untreated, exposed concrete pairs with cedar cladding, custom, oak-paneled ceilings, and a glass roof in the center of the home that opens like a sunroof for natural ventilation.



The cabin’s profile slopes on one side to create an ever-changing play of shadows on the ceiling and roof throughout the day. The ceiling remains free of lighting and other technical installations, allowing it to frame the room with its beautiful shape and put the focus on the views outside.



Zoning different areas of the home with unique qualities ensured the relatively small house "always has some spaces that are buzzy, and some spaces that are quiet," says the architect.

The family enjoys cooking, and they wanted the kitchen to stand in a separate space from the living room to keep the latter zone free from the noise and smells of food preparation. During the summertime, Line says, the family enjoys swimming in the sea and hiking in the surrounding mountains. When the mercury rises, the home’s base and sunroof pair to keep the air inside cool and buoyant.



Come winter, blown wood-fiber insulation (made of spruce chips from Norwegian timber) spread throughout the walls, ceiling, and floor helps stabilize humidity and keep things cozy-even on the chilliest Nordic nights. "In the wintertime, it’s even nicer than in the summer," says Line. "It is a joy to watch the moonlight and the wild ocean."


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
×