A home constructed entirely of natural pinewood sits on a rocky shore overlooking a Norwegian fjord. The structure uses materials that literally fell from the skies above to reach the cliffside site.
The fjords that crinkle Norway’s west coast are often described as godlike in scale, but building on them is a challenge. The area is strictly regulated, and finding a suitable plot can take years. When retired oil executives Håvard Roethe and Anne Karin Borlaug noticed a rundown property overlooking the fjords of Ryfylke for sale online, they knew they had to act quickly.
The original site lacked access and was in poor condition. Because there are no roads to the location in Vierveien 184, the couple needed a way to bring in heavy materials. The planning authorities required that any new structure preserve the ground, meaning no digging was allowed.
Architect Katrine Grimnes designed the replacement using a concrete shelf supported by pillars. Bringing the necessary pine from the local sawmill was a logistical hurdle. To avoid cutting down trees or driving trucks up narrow paths, the construction team relied on helicopters to drop the natural materials directly onto the cliff.
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The resulting home is a simple, wooden box connected to a bedroom wing by an atrium. The building faces west to capture the afternoon light, with the narrower front section visible to the fjord. This positioning satisfies the strict municipal regulations that demand new constructions often be hidden from the shoreline.
Living Within the Forest
Inside the retreat, the natural materials dictate the aesthetic. Walls, ceilings, and floors are all pine, and the aluminium roof of the atrium is perpetually covered in a layer of pine needles that drift down from the branches above.
While the views serve as the main decoration, the bedrooms are furnished in shades of blue. The home is equipped with underfloor heating and a woodburner for the Norwegian winter. In the summer, the pine deck provides a shaded spot to enjoy the scenery.
While the home fits the setting perfectly, the regulatory environment makes such projects rare. In a country that values nature above all else, preserving the dense pine forest while creating a modern dwelling requires a careful balance of planning and execution.
