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Found on-site and retained, a boulder juxtaposes with the building’s crisp lines.

The experience of the farm includes to the permaculture vegetable garden, fresh farm eggs, interactions with the goats and horses, and hiking through a landscape populated by giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and warthogs.

Architect Line Solgaard, founder of the eponymous Oslo- and Fredrikstad-based firm, designed a getaway for her family in the place where she grew up. Untreated, exposed concrete pairs with cedar cladding; custom, oak-paneled ceilings; and a glass roof in the center of the home that opens like a sunroof for natural ventilation.

Floor plan of Axiom Desert House by Turkel Design

The children’s bedroom features an Oslo Sofa wall bed system from Resource Furniture as well as fold-away bunk beds (not shown), so the girls have lots of space to play in when they’re not sleeping.

A peek at the master bedroom.

Clerestory windows by Marvin bring plenty of light into the master bathroom. The tiles are by Bisazza and the fixtures are by CEA Design. White Corian surfaces complement the custom walnut cabinetry by Turkel Design.

The kitchen features appliances by Dacor, countertops by Corian, and stools by Fyrn. The designers chose an electric range as part of their efforts not to use fossil fuel. The faucets are by CEA Design.

In the living room, a custom daybed becomes part of the outdoor furnishings when the Marvin lift-and-slide doors are open. The sofas are from Resource and the rug is by Angela Adams.

The house was fully assembled in just 32 working days. “It was a wonderful, emotional thing to be able to put ourselves in the shoes of our clients,” describes Meelena.

The lower level

Matt's brother, Sam, also fabricated the custom steel railing and floating stair treads. Underneath the stairs, a desk is built into the landing.