make your fridays matter with a well-read weekend

 

Rever & Drage Architects design a quaint timber home facing Moldefjord in Norway

The Oslo-based firm envisions Zieglers Nest – a contemporary three-storey wooden cabin for a family of five - along Norway's western coast.

by STIRworldPublished on : Jan 11, 2021

Rever & Drage Architects have designed a slender wooden house laced in warm metaphors – one can imagine it as a collection of their grandmother’s cupboard, or a traditional wooden home placed in a sharply carved meadow.

Zieglers Nest overlooks river Fjord and mountains beyond | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
Zieglers Nest overlooks river Fjord and mountains beyond Image: Tom Auger

The house known as the Zieglers Nest is built into a steep hilly site in the little fjord city of Molde in Norway and overlooks stunning panoramic views of the city, the river Molde and the mountains beyond.

The placement of windows softens the seeming rigidity of the wooden house | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
The placement of windows softens the seeming rigidity of the wooden house Image: Tom Auger

Designed for a family of five, the three-storey house employs timber frames that are dovetailed to create an impression of the house being a cabin.

Internal circulation | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
Internal circulation Image: Tom Auger

The tall and slim skeleton of the building was decided to accommodate a moderate footprint of the structure and limited use of concrete in the foundations. The facades soften the seemingly rigidity of the form as tall windows and vertical timber finishing grace the front façade and small horizontal panels with a more sober articulation are accentuated on the sides.

  • Concrete basement | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
    Concrete basement Image: Tom Auger
  • Quaint inlets for natural light in the basement | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
    Quaint inlets for natural light in the basementImage: Tom Auger

The house entrance is through the ground floor, which contains a garage and a five-metre-high utility room as the children’s indoor play area. The family living spaces are distributed on the upper three floors and a roof terrace.

Kitchen conservatory | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
Kitchen conservatory Image: Tom Auger

On the first floor are two children’s bedrooms and a bathroom that look out to the fjord and the snow laden hillside. As per Rever & Drage Architects, the first floor is built in framework, while the top two floors that comprise the double height living area and a family library are built in log construction. “For this reason, the staircases, which rest on the framework, are constructed independently of the upper floors such that the log construction can compress, without being hindered by the static parts of the building,” says the firm.

  • Independent staircases on the upper floors | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
    Independent staircases on the upper floors Image: Tom Auger
  • Master Bathroom | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
    Master Bathroom Image: Tom Auger

The second floor, which is the heart of the house, is designed as a floating space that frames stunning views while receiving ample daylight. “The tall windows in the living room face the views of the Molde panorama with fjord and mountains to the south, the conservatory in the kitchen faces the sheltered garden to the east, while the library faces the close-up effect of a green pocket to the west,” adds the firm.

  • Family living | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
    Family living area Image: Tom Auger
  • Vertical cross-section of the house | Zieglers Nest | Rever & Drage Architects | STIRworld
    Vertical cross-section of the house Image: Tom Auger

“There is also a Romeo and Juliet balcony towards the living room for home stage performances. From the gallery you can proceed to the roof terrace for extra evening sun, starry sky and northern lights,' mentions the firm.

Every space within the timber home is arranged according to the views it captures and to provide a natural aesthetic that comforts with its sheer warmth.

What do you think?

About Author

Recommended

LOAD MORE
see more articles
4454,4466,4284,4501,4250

make your fridays matter SUBSCRIBE

This site uses cookies to offer you an improved and personalised experience. If you continue to browse, we will assume your consent for the same.
LEARN MORE AGREE