In a holiday house designed for a young family, Stockholm-based Claesson Koivisto Rune combined natural materials with modern, minimalist look.

The clients, a young family with two young children, had to fit into 45 m2, which was the limit allowed by local building authorities, because the house is officially a guesthouse to the main house. This main house is only 8 metres uphill, which prompted our decision for a completely closed façade in that direction – for the privacy of both parties. However, all the other façades facing the waterline, which is only 4 metres away, are open and invite a wonderful view across the Baltic Sea.

The interior decoration is minimal – Nordic and vintage elements combine to create quiet spaces for drinking tea and daydreaming. A central fireplace — the home’s only heating source — is powered by local driftwood, and the entire home can be heated up in an hour. Fully insulated, the house’s electricity is sourced from ethical companies that only provide renewable energy. The house is made entirely from locally sourced pinewood, which turns from yellow to a beautiful grey as the years pass.