This Tiny Boathouse in Norway Is a Private Retreat in Plain Sight

The windowless cabin by Handegård Arkitektur grants a one-way vista that’s aimed out over the North Sea.

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In the North Sea along the Norwegian coast, a barn-red cabin perches at water’s edge, but it’s not the only one. "Outside Fredrikstad, southeast of Oslo, the area is characterized by small bathhouses, boathouses, and piers from the early 20th century," says architect Espen Handegård.

A red-painted exterior marks the 193-square-foot boathouse that architect Espen Handegård of Handegård Arkitektur imagined for a young couple on the waterfront in Norway.

In designing this 193-square-foot boathouse for a young couple wanting to relax at water’s edge, Handegård stuck with a gable roof, but opted for a windowless design. To bring in light, he used vertical acrylic panels interspersed with heart pine boards that are angled at 45 degrees toward the water. Sitting on chairs inside, the couple can look out and take in vistas of land and sea, and the boards provide complete privacy.

"The slats close the building toward the back and open it toward the front," Handegård says. "You’re sheltered, but you’ve a view of the entire sea."

A retractable wood terrace slides out from beneath the tiny cabin and is stowed when not in use.

The pine boards support the pitched corrugated-metal roof, and the entire structure is painted red, as is the style in the area. "It looks like a traditional Norwegian boathouse—especially from the path at the back—but at the same time, it has a modern design expression," Handegård says.

The boathouse is set on stacked granite slabs. "To be sure the stones stay in place, we drilled a steel rod through the columns and down into the bedrock," the architect says.

Angled heart pine boards interspersed with acrylic panels offer privacy while providing views of the sea, sky, and surrounding forestland.

Inside, solid wood flooring and a cross-laminated timber ceiling and walls lend texture to the open-plan space, which features a living room and a loft-style bedroom above a bathroom. "Wood is durable, vibrant, and one of the most sustainable materials we have," says Handegård. The architect embedded metal panels around an Ankarsrum wood stove in the living area, and a metal ladder attached to the rear wall leads to the bedroom.

Wood flooring lends warmth and texture to the space, and complements the red-painted boards and the greenish-blue water.

The bathroom is accessed from the outside of the cabin, where Handegård designed an outdoor shower. "There are also hidden doors that access a storage compartment for life jackets and fishing equipment," he says.

The interior is arranged with a living area, a loft-style sleeping area, and a bathroom that’s accessed from the outside. An Ankarsrum wood stove heats the space.

A retractable terrace cantilevers over the sea and holds a pair of large double doors open, tying the cabin to the water.

At the sea-facing facade, a retractable terrace slides out from beneath the structure and extends out over the water. When extended, a pair of expansive double doors opens out, connecting the interior to the landscape. "With all of my projects," Handegård says, "the landscape and a sense of place are the basis for inspiration."