As one of Sweden’s best-known architects, Gert Wingårdh has designed many prestigious projects. But he also found time to renovate his summerhouse from the 1600s together with his wife, Karin, a fellow architect.
Private residence, Bohuslän, Sweden
Architect: Wingårdh Arkitektkontor AB
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Dinesen Douglas
Thickness: 35 mm. Width: 300 mm. Full lenghts up to 7 m
Finish: Lye and white soap
The summerhouse is situated on Sweden’s west coast, and the couple’s philosophy was to allow the house to be shaped by the family’s needs. It has been carefully renovated in three stages, and today it forms a unique refuge for the couple. The most recent renovation was the most comprehensive. The ceiling was raised one metre, and the first floor was converted into a single large space with a stunning view of the sea. The two architects deliberately chose a style that deviates from the original architecture in order to invite nature in through the large window sections.
The bright and simple room serves as a combined living room and bedroom with an adjacent bathroom section behind an elegant half wall. The wall is clad with Dinesen Douglas wooden planks, which ensures a smooth transition to the Dinesen floor. For Gert and Karin Wingårdh, nature is an important source of inspiration, and they aimed to use natural materials such as stone and, not least, wood that match the old wooden house.
As a striking detail, the window sections in the two gable ends are clad with panels spaced slightly apart to allow the sunlight in. The gaps form a beautiful pattern on the Dinesen floor, creating an effect that the couple loves.
