Designed to adapt to a variety of weather conditions, Gapahuk – a prefab cabin by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta – has a twisted roof that folds down on one side to offer wind protection, or tilts up on the other to capture more sunlight. The home was designed for Rindalshytter, Norway's leading producer of leisure homes, as a combination of tradition and innovation; the name of the cabin, Gapahuk, is a Norwegian word for a simple wooden structure with two or three walls and a roof often created as a shelter from rough weather conditions. Drawing inspiration from the traditional gapahuk, the cabin is shaped with the aim of adapting to varying weather conditions.
Large wood beams frame the sauna’s deck and outdoor shower area.
“We bought the land not knowing what we could build or where. It’s off by itself and pretty isolated,” says Jeff.
Whitewashed walls provide a simple backdrop for a table and chairs from IKEA and pendants by Dear Human.
Skylights throw pink and yellow tones across the 850-square-foot unit’s stepped ceilings. “With small spaces, we try to play with clerestory windows, skylights, and ceilings. It makes the architecture feel spacious, almost as though it’s levitating.”
A rendering shows Kabinka set up as a lakeside cabin with a different timber finish and a glazed facade.