visiondivision: hill hut

the interior of the hill hut image by clive jenkins

visiondivision was commissioned to design ‘hill hut’, an extension to a villa for two children in a picturesque lake setting in southern stockholm. the nature surrounding the plot of land, and the fact that the house was to be occupied by two kids were the starting points for the design. instead of constructing a house made from expensive materials and detailing, they wanted to utilize their budget to create a more playful architecture. they did so by enhancing the elements of the landscape. being a kid in sweden, means you will spend a lot of time in the outside environment, immersed in nature. visiondivision wanted to give the two kids, a safe base where they could fully explore their new surroundings and be able to appreciate it to the fullest.

to create a steady foundation for the new house, large mases of earth were taken away and used to create a hill, enhanced with different elements such as an outdoor cinema and a sledge slope. a carpet of artificial grass connects seamlessly with the natural grass on the hill and enters via the terrace to the living room between the two children’s room. a custom-made grass sofa, and some grassy knolls which also function as lighting. the artificial hills can be moved around and be put outside as well. there are two large glass doors on both sides of the room, giving the impression that nature moves through the house. the effect is even more apparent when the doors are fully open. the carpet of artificial grass continues out on to the other terrace as well as the hallway, stopping just before the old house.

the entrance to the new house is through a removed bay window which connects to the old building. the hallway which leads to the oiginal part of the house slopes because of the difference in heights of the two homes, making the transition from traditional swedish house down to the new, more ‘playful’ one. the children’s rooms are almost as two separate units with the landscape between and around them. the house itself follows the municipality’s different regulations such as a pointed roof. white corrugated metal sheeting which looks like wood from a distance is used on the exterior walls and roof of the house, to give an overall consistent aesthetic.

the interior is covered in artificial grass and movable grassy hills image by clive jenkins

the large open windows make nature seem as if it is running into the house image by clive jenkins

exterior view image by clive jenkins

the hill hut is built into an artificial hill surrounded by natural hills and landscape image by clive jenkins

view of house built into the hill image by clive jenkins

the excavations left a big void under the house, affording room to construct two secret caves within this space. made from concrete, one cave is directed to a lush grass knoll that leads down to the lake and is disguised with artificial grass to blend in. the other cave is pointed towards a patch of forest and is left in its raw concrete. the caves are accessible both from outside and from the children’s room by hatches in the floor.

inside one of the caves image by clive jenkins

the outdoor cinema has six chairs that are inserted in a concrete foundation in the sloping hill. a screen is set-up between two trees that also have two speakers disguised as bird houses for the cinema.

the outdoor cinema is built into the artificial hill image by clive jenkins

the outdoor cinema has six chairs that are inserted in a concrete foundation in the sloping hill. a screen is set-up between two trees that also have two speakers, disguised as bird houses for the cinema.

graphic of natural and artificial space

navigational routes

renderings of the house’s construction

aerial view of the plot

component details

floor plan

project details:

architects: visiondivision location: stockholm design team: anders berensson & ulf mejergren construction year: 2009 project area: 55m2 photographs: clive jenkins

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