When outdoor enthusiast and tech executive Anders Smedberg set out to build a mountain getaway for himself and his two teenage children among the ski slopes of Edsåsdalen in northern Sweden, he had a clear vision. He wanted a practical and comfortable alpine home inspired by the classic American A-frame, and he called on Stockholm architect Måns Tham—whose cousin designed a previous home of his—to help him create it.

Tham tweaked the basic A-frame concept to reflect the home’s Scandinavian context. He added curved aluminum dormers that swing out from the prefabricated aluminum roof and wood frame, evoking the kåta (huts) used by the Sámi, an Indigenous people of several Nordic countries, as well as the branches of the trees that surround the home. The front and rear elevations will also pick up the silvery hues of nearby birches as their Kebony wood cladding patinates over time.

The exterior walls are from Kebony, the roof from Prefa, and the windows from Velfac." layout="" credit="Add credit" photoUserId=""/>

The swooping roofline allows light to flow through large windows into a spacious interior discreetly divided by sliding pocket doors. The roughly 30-by-82-foot two-level house includes five bedrooms and can easily sleep up to a dozen people, a capacity meant to give the home longevity.

“I was thinking long-term,” says Anders, who lives in Stockholm but—like many Swedes—loves the family fjällhus (mountain house) tradition. “I can stay here with my kids even when they have families of their own.”

“The tent-like shape resembles a mountain. When the snow falls, the triangle becomes embedded in the landscape.”
—Måns Tham, architect

Large groups also fit comfortably in the open-plan kitchen and lounge, where floor-to-ceiling and picture windows frame impressive alpine views. The ground floor is anchored by a glazed-brick fireplace with a curved firebox that echoes the unique shape of the roofline. Upstairs, this motif returns in the central den, where the Siberian larch ceiling sweeps up to the roof’s ridge.

The window- and wood-lined interiors will be a beacon for Anders and his guests returning from outdoor activities throughout the year, be they skiing in winter or bicycling in the summer. It’s a nice place for unwinding, too: Near the entrance, a room for removing gear connects to a spa area with a sauna.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Måns Tham Arkitektkontor / @mans_tham

Construction: Esbjörn Wiklund

Structural Engineering: Ehns Projektering

Lighting and Interior Design: Måns Tham Arkitektkontor / @mans_tham

—

Head back to the January/February 2022 issue homepage