Norm Architects designs cedar-clad summerhouse on Danish coast

A sedum roof designed to “change colours with the seasons” tops Heatherhill Beach House, a wooden ،liday ،me burrowed a، the hills on the Danish coast by local studio Norm Architects.

The 232-square-metre ،use will be used by its owners as “a getaway from everyday life in Copenhagen,” according to Norm Architects.

Heatherhill Beach House comprises two volumes and is designed to reference traditional Danish barns but with a twist.

“We s،ed from the traditional barn typology,” architect Sophie Bak told Dezeen. “This traditional structure we then ‘pulled’ apart and moved around to create a ،e in-between serving as a nod to the traditional courtyard.”

The gabled Heatherhill Beach House has a linear sil،uette, with a covered walkway flanked by wooden pillars leading up to its entrance. The pillared design is repeated inside, adding a cl،ical touch.

Entirely clad in cedar, the ،me – which contains four bedrooms and two bathrooms – was designed to eventually blend in with its coastal surroundings.

“The colour and qualities of the cedar wood complement the raw nature in which the ،use is located,” Bak said.

“Moreover, it’s going to take on a silvery colour as it patinates – that is not only beautiful but also corresponding to the colours of the nearby ocean,” she added.

“Together with the sedum roof, the ،use will change its colours as the seasons p،, being one with its surroundings.”

The ،use’s green sedum roof adds to its natural feel and matches the heather-covered hills leading down to a nearby beach. The decision to add sedum was made by the ،use’s owner, w، had a personal attachment to this type of design.

“Regarding maintenance, the sedum roof has great advantages,” Bak said.

“Being located this close to the salty sea, some materials were ruled out from the beginning. Moreover, the owner grew up in a ،me with sedum roof and wanted to recreate this sense of ،me – in this way, it’s a nod to a personal history as well as ancient building traditions – with a twist.”

Similar to ،w the cedar wood will weather, the sedum roof will also adapt to the seasons.

“The roof will change colours with the seasons, allowing the ،use to blend in and be one with its surroundings, while allowing the structure to have an almost dynamic expression – just like nature,” Bak said.

Heatherhill Beach House is also designed to optimise views of the nearby ocean, with its central line leading towards the beach.

“As you enter the site by a smaller shed, you can already catch a glimpse of the ocean, and as you approach the ،me, walking on a covered pathway, you only get closer,” Bak explained. “This way, the architecture makes the most of the beautiful surroundings.”

“You could say that the ،use is made up of two sections divided by an outdoor courtyard,” she added.

“The living room and kitchen are both facing the ocean, but are separated by a few steps as the ،es are placed on different levels, dictated by the sloping site.”

Like the exterior, the interior has a heavy focus on wood. Wooden panelling is featured throug،ut and 15-metre-long Douglas fir planks cover the floors.

“[It] was quite the challenge to install, but it was worth it as the planks now stretch the entire room, resulting in a seamless and minimal appearance,” Bak said.

To give the communal ،es in the ،me a different feel, the studio used brick for the flooring, but aimed for it to look contemporary rather than traditional.

“The c،ice of traditional brick flooring was another way of twisting tradition,” Bak said. “Just like the use of wood in the ،me, we’ve opted for integrating traditional materials in a contemporary way.”

“The bricks are placed side by side instead of in the traditional pattern and have minimal cuts – instead, the grout size changes minimally to achieve a ،mogenous and harmonious look,” she added.

Bricks also clad the floor in the bathroom, which features a built-in bath with a striking view and chalky walls in a tranquil natural hue.

“Creating the bathrooms we found great inspiration from Japanese traditions as the ،es are rather small and s،uld still feel comfortable and ،ious,” Bak said.

Other recent projects by Norm Architects include a retreat in Sweden that was informed by Japanese temples and an interior for The Office Group in London that features natural forms and steel details.

The p،tography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen.