The Perfect Barn

Although located in a pine forest, protected from the strong Scanian winds and intense sun, with no sea in direct sight – except the top floor – the house is a coastal residence. The sea waves provide a calming background melody, while the light Siberian larch facades and roof shine in the beautiful northern light.

"I wanted to make this house my masterpiece of the genre, the perfect Swedish woodhouse I could imagine. The shape of a barn was a clear choice, as this interpretation of the vernacular architecture in the area perfectly matched the form of the client's land. For the façade, we picked by hand the most beautiful boards from the highest sorting of Siberian larch; the rest was used on the roof. It's fascinating how much you can express with one material just by applying differentiated surfaces."

Johan Sundberg

With the help of thick curtains, the interior changes into a very private, cosy space, with only views opening up to the sky and treetops. Combined with a burning fireplace, this setting is optimal in the colder months; many families choose to spend the summer and winter holidays in their countryside homes. All-season functionality, together with an outlook of the house becoming the main habitation after retirement, results in holiday homes with full functionality in all seasons.

Johan Sundberg believes that engaging the users into forming their habitat strengthens the connection between people and space: pulling curtains on hot days to prevent glare and overheating or opening the windows for necessary airing. In places where one can't reach a window – for example, because of its placement high in the roof – he appreciates automatic steering systems, provided with VELUX skylights.