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Atelier Oslo overcame nature’s challenges when they designed Cabin Norderhov, a seasonal, eco-friendly retreat on a steep hillside overlooking Lake Steinsfjorden. The home’s layout revolves around a central glass and metal "campfire" that burns beneath a suspended mantel. Since it’s located at the access level, the fireplace's flickering warmth can be enjoyed throughout the house. The surrounding floor is covered with hexagon tiles cut from marble, which transition into tiles made of birch log in the rest of the house.

The living room is anchored by a large brick fireplace, original to the home. Black-framed, bi-fold glass doors open the space up to the lush backyard, an idyllic spot for entertaining.

The kitchen evokes warm, modern flair with wooden cabinetry and a colorful backsplash.

A built-in desk with a Breuer-designed chair sits in a corner of the den.

The master bedroom has its own separate den/sitting area.

"A steep or unstable site can make it difficult and costly to seismically retrofit a structure, or stabilize the site,” says Thomas Schaer at SHED Architecture and Design, a Seattle-based firm with extensive experience in adaptive reuse, as well as midcentury remodel. “There also may be land-use code provisions that limit or prevent development on the lot."