House of Many Courtyards

April 26, 2021

Claesson Koivisto Rune Architects designed a private residence hidden just on the tree-line, behind a sandy ocean beach in Sweden.


The topography of the plot is characterised by soft undulation as it is formed by sand dunes conquered by vegetation. One of the requirement of the project in the brief was for maximum privacy while maintaining contact with the beach and the horizon. Or, in other words, great views from inside but little visibility from outside. And the house itself should blend in with its setting as best as possible.
The solution came with an imaginary slicing up of an elongated box and dislocating of the parts in alternating, parallel order. Thus, ending up with a number of outwardly open courtyard terraces – one in each gap. In principle, like the camshaft in a multiple-piston engine. In the façade, each protruding box is a closed wall while full glazing is used inside the courtyards – sometimes at their deep end, sometimes sideways facing. Besides framing each view, the outlooks become very private.




The house has the appearance of a series of individual boxes that in reality is one interior connected via a 40-metre-long, end-to-end, central communication axis – functioning like a corridor, but in each space a part of the room. The internally glazed courtyards are perceived as a continuation of each indoor space, doubling the experienced space. Weather permitting, they can be opened up to a very large extent to actually become continuations of the rooms.
Each box was given a unique ceiling height in accordance with the function and proportion of the room, like a strand of beads of various sizes. This makes moving through the house an ever-changing spatial experience.



The materials are Petersen Kolumba brick walls, hardwood ceilings and limestone floors and terraces. The same long and flat proportion of the bricks was used in the floor-laying pattern as well as in the ceilings. The colour of the handmade bricks was matched with the local colour of the sand of the beach. The house is not camouflaged but both colour and geometry form an abstraction very true to the surrounding nature and topography.



Architecture  Claesson Koivisto Rune Architects  www.claessonkoivistorune.se  @claessonkoivistorune

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magazine • September 22, 2026
Ten years after its launch in Milan, Contract District Group enters a new phase of growth, combining interior design expertise, proprietary technology and artificial intelligence to reshape furniture distribution across contract and retail markets.
By G&G _ Magazine • September 21, 2026
Taking place from 26–28 November 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), FIND will bring international furniture, interiors and design brands together with the architects, interior designers, developers, hospitality professionals and procurement teams shaping Southeast Asia’s built environment.
By G&G _ Magazine • September 19, 2026
Studio WYZE, the interior design firm with studios in London and Zurich, projected TATTU Dubai of Permanently Unique Group, located within the world’s tallest hotel Ciel Dubai Marina .
By G&G _ Magazine • September 11, 2026
SISHICRAFT Studio transforms vegetable-tanned leather into delicate handcrafted objects inspired by the botanical world. G&G _ Magazine explores the creative vision behind the brand with Natalie, from transforming botanical inspiration into handcrafted objects to experimenting with material, form and the subtle imperfections that make every piece unique.
By G&G _ Magazine • September 6, 2026
From 12 to 20 September 2026, the eighth edition of Lake Como Design Festival unfolds across Como, Lake Como and, for the first time, Lecco, bringing exhibitions, installations and new collaborations under the theme “ Border ”.
By G&G _ Magazine • September 3, 2026
Running from 15 to 20 September 2026 Shoreditch Design Week brings together more than 100 showrooms, exhibitions, installations and events across LDF’s largest design district. This year's programme expands with the addition of Material Matters at Unlocked, ND Selects at Kachette and Neuroplaces alongside returning favourites including Design at Work, Isola Design, 2LG Studio and Raw Collaborative at House of Icon further cementing Shoreditch's reputation as a leading destination for contemporary design.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine • September 19, 2026
Studio WYZE, the interior design firm with studios in London and Zurich, projected TATTU Dubai of Permanently Unique Group, located within the world’s tallest hotel Ciel Dubai Marina .
By G&G _ Magazine • September 15, 2026
In Kyiv, Ater Architects projected Integral Fitness Studio , seamlessly integrated with G.Bar , as a contemporary environment where movement, beauty and holistic wellbeing come together.
By G&G _ Magazine • September 11, 2026
SISHICRAFT Studio transforms vegetable-tanned leather into delicate handcrafted objects inspired by the botanical world. G&G _ Magazine explores the creative vision behind the brand with Natalie, from transforming botanical inspiration into handcrafted objects to experimenting with material, form and the subtle imperfections that make every piece unique.