Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Organic Outgrowth: Home Conforms to Natural Site Stone

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 10:00 AM PST

The rigid geometries practical to house construction rarely play nicely with the more chaotic curves and angles of nature – this design provides a productive compromise, deformed to respond to nature while remaining practical.

Designed by PS Arkitektur (images by Jason Strong), this residence outside of Stockholm, Sweden rests largely on an uneven rocky outcrop – it lifts in places, and sits in others, bending in both plan and profile as needed for both occupants and context.

One of the smallest and simplest moves is also one of the most successful when it comes to site integration – the deck wrapping along one side (though it looks more linear in plan) is cut in smaller increments to mediate between the relatively few angles of the building and the infinite bends in the rocks around it.

Matte black roofing material makes for a subtle presence in the landscape from the outside, while a bright-white interior makes for modern living within. The transitional materials and spaces do an admiral job of transitioning between natural and man-made spaces on the site.