Nordic Tales

P. 122

A dwelling of glass and pine, on a Norwegian fjord: the contentment of isolation in nature

When Frode Danielsen and Tone-Beathe Øvrevoll decided to merge their lives, including their five children (13 to 27 years of age), they chose the tiny island of Halvarøy. «My father and his 7 siblings grew up here», says Frode. «As a child I spent lots of time in the cottages they built. When I brought Tone-Beathe here, she fell in love with the place. So we began to think about a cabin of our own». It took a couple of years and the expertise of an award-winning architect, Snorre Stinessen, to make the refuge of their dreams. Which wasn’t easy: to obtain approval to build and to reduce the impact on the territory, they had to find a sufficiently level site, free of large boulders.

Efjord Cabin, with an area of about 200 square meters, is built on a concrete base, with local labor and materials: above all, pine for the exterior, and birch for the interiors. Stinessen has positioned the building to make the most of natural light, reducing energy needs. The part towards the north has been closed and contains the bedrooms, while the southern facade opens to a breathtaking view for the large living area.

The forms of the cabin have been designed to interweave indoor and outdoor settings. «We wanted nature to play a leading role», the owners explain. «We Norwegians have a special relationship with our surroundings, in this sense». Including the very low temperatures and the lack of light in the winter. An extreme dwelling like this one reflects a specific choice: that of «simplicity». But being at the edge of the world, even during the virus emergency, does not mean total isolation. «We continue to work and study, and to be connected», Frode says. «We get supplies at a distance of a half hour by car, since there is a bridge linking us to the mainland. We have many guests in summer, big family gatherings. We’re lucky to be here».