Danish architecture studio CEBRA has built a summer house resembling typical Russian babushka doll, which emerged with the traditional pitched roof as an architectural interpretation of the traditional Russian doll in Vejle, Denmark.

Named Treldehuset, the one-story house has a very simple shape wrapped by a dark slate on both roof and facades and is thus experienced as a frame in a single material. Covering a total of 130-square-metre area, the one-storey house is located right next to Vejle Fjord on a scenic site with distinctive trees. 

"The view of the fjord, the coastal atmosphere and the nature that encourage an active outdoor life had an important influence on the design. At first glance, the house is traditionally designed with a pitched roof paralleling the long sides of the site and a gable facing the view," said CEBRA.

"However, at a closer look, we are dealing with a kind of double house – a house inside a bigger house. This idea evokes thoughts of the Russian babushka dolls," added the studio.

The studio designed a thermal envelope beneath of the house to a create a double effect on its skin and make inside bigger. In this way, a roofed outdoor area occurs between the thermal envelope, the actual house and the larger shell, which give access to a protected area – a continuation of the interior which allows you, even on rainy summer nights, to eat, grill or maybe clean a newly caught fish. 

This transitional zone between indoor and outdoor constitutes an interesting space between the characteristic trees with a view of the fjord.

This exterior shell is lined with larch and is outlined by aluminium profiles. The interior is characterized by a white finish, concrete and sheathing of larch making a strong connection between the roofed patio and the interior. On warm summer days, the large sliding doors of glass can be pushed aside connecting the living room and the terrace.

The heated part of the house is divided into two parallel spaces running along the narrow site. To the west, the common rooms of the house, including kitchen, dining area and a living room, are placed corresponding to the widest part of the outdoor area. 

The smaller rooms, such as bathroom, utility room and guest room, are placed on the eastern side. All the rooms are regular and private, but the bedroom with a view of the fjord can be opened towards the living room.

Site plan

Concept sketch

Elevations

Elevations

Sections

CEBRA, led by Mikkel Frost, Carsten Primdahl and Kolja Nielsen and Mikkel Hallundbæk Schlesinger, has offices in Aarhus in Denmark and in Abu Dhabi. The studio recently completed a primary school in Denmark, featuring steep pitched roofs and a series of irregularly-arranged windows that act as a landscape element within the nature. 

New Experimentarium, featuring a spectacular Helix staircase, in Copenhagen is one of key projects of the studio, which was completed last year.

CEBRA is working on a housing project in the Øgaderne neighbourhood in their home city of Aarhus, designing 200 dwellings scheduled for completion in 2019. Moreover, CEBRA is designing luxury housing in central Bratislava as well as two prestigious and confidential housing projects in the MENA-region.

Project facts

Address: Vejle
Client: Private
Size: 130 m2
Year: 2016-2017
Status: Completed
Architect: CEBRA

All images © Mikkel Frost | CEBRA

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