The Cabin Laksvatn is a 50 m² retreat located on the Lyngen Peninsula near Tromsø in northern Norway, in a region known for its dramatic alpine landscape. Designed by Oslo-based Hamran/Johansen Arkitekter and completed in 2014, the cabin provides a comfortable and spacious accommodation for a large family with a total of nine beds, despite its modest footprint.

The design was a creative response to the challenge of accommodating many people on a tight budget. The architects cleverly limited the net floor area to 50 m² to comply with Norwegian building codes, which impose additional technical demands on larger cabins. The solution involved utilizing the space beneath the pitched roof, where the low ceiling height does not legally count as floor area. This loft space was ideally suited for sleeping quarters.

The cabin presents a contemporary take on a traditional form, with its classic pitched roof complemented by the use of extra-wide wooden cladding and large windows. The exterior cladding is made from glulam panels treated with natural pine tar, which will weather over time to blend with the natural surroundings.

The interior is functional and minimalist, featuring exposed timber framing and knot-free pine paneling. The ground floor is constructed from in-situ cast concrete, which follows the natural terrain and defines the transition between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

The loft space, measuring just 14 m², cleverly accommodates three single beds and two double beds. An additional double bed is located in a bedroom on the ground floor. To maximize light and create an immersive experience, the windows reach to the ceiling on the upper section, while their height variations at the bottom are strategically aligned with specific functions and views. A large window band offers panoramic mountain views in nearly every direction.

A minimalist, cantilevered staircase with thin steel plates provides access to the loft, and an open steel grating on the upper level filters light from a skylight, emphasizing the cabin's verticality.

The design draws on the features of a previous, dilapidated family cabin from 1942 that was on the same site, reinterpreting elements like its corner windows and exterior cladding.

Project credits

Architects: Hamran/Johansen Arkitekter (Lars Hamran and André Severin Johansen)

Client: Hamran/Johansen Arkitekter AS

Project Year: 2014

Location: Laksvatn, Tromsø, Norway

Photographers: Ivan Brodey, André Severin Johansen

Consultants: eStatikk AS