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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Handegård Arkitektur

Builder/General Contractor: Egil Norli

Landscape Design: Handegård Arkitektur

Interior Design: Handegård Arkitektur

Steelwork: Fredrikstad Mekaniske

Photography: Carlos Rollán/@carlos.rollan