Remote Retreat Among the Wilderness of the Stockholm Archipelago

This small black cabin forms one of 5 structures set along the shoreline of a remote island in the Stockholm archipelago. The cabin (and its sibling structures) have been designed by the architecture firm Margen Wigow Arkitekkontor as part of a holiday home for a lucky client.

 

Small Cabins - Margen Wigow Arkitektkontor - Stockholm Archipelago - Exterior - Humble Homes

The architects were tasked by the owner to provide him with the opportunity to “live a simple life close to nature”. The diminutive cabin is set among the wilderness of the archipelago – during its construction the builders opted to stay on site to complete the project due to its remoteness.

 

Small Cabins - Margen Wigow Arkitektkontor - Stockholm Archipelago - Kitchen - Humble Homes

The buildings take inspiration from the regions traditional fishing huts. They’re clad in boards of black-painted pine. All told, the site is home to the main cabin, a guest suite, sauna, boat house and a garden shed. From the architects: “We wanted to make the buildings as discrete as possible and also use traditional materials. The ceilings are covered with resistant sedum plants that do well in the archipelago and the exteriors are painted with black ‘paint sludge’.”

 

Small Cabins - Margen Wigow Arkitektkontor - Stockholm Archipelago - Living Room - Humble Homes

The interior of the cabin is finished with natural pine floors, plywood walls and ceilings. Floor-to-ceiling windows have been installed on the faces that look out towards the water. Upholstered window seats have been set into nooks that double as storage space.

Small Cabins - Margen Wigow Arkitektkontor - Stockholm Archipelago - Reading Nook - Humble Homes

The cabin is divided into three sections, with the uppermost level containing the bedroom. This is followed by the living room, and lastly, on the lowest level, the kitchen. Because the island has no electricity or water supply, the units are heated with soapstone fireplaces and lit by kerosene lamps.

Small Cabins - Margen Wigow Arkitektkontor - Stockholm Archipelago - Floor Plan - Humble Homes

Most of the structures come with their own little exterior deck. They’ve been left unpainted so as to contrast with the black finish used elsewhere. There’s a romanticism associated with off-grid living and rooms lit by candle light (or in this case kerosene lamps) – who knows how practical it would be in the long term, particularly during the harsh winters, but I could definitely give it a go for a weekend or two.

Via Dezeen

Niall Burke

Structural engineer by day, tiny house designer by night. Niall has a keen interest in small spaces, green design, and sustainability. He started developing Humble Homes while studying for his masters degree in engineering. He is the founder and managing editor of Humble Homes.

4 Comments
  1. The kitchen area has a sink (but no faucet). I would have welcomed a photo of the bathroom (if one exists) and some information on waste water and sewage disposal (an important factor in such a pristine environment)
    Michael

  2. Michael, if the location has no water supply, as in town supply, then it isn’t unreasonable to NOT have taps (or faucets as Americans call them). A water bottle can be used to tip water into the sink for cleaning purposes. Hey, the owner had it made to be more back to nature and simple living. You expected something else given his stated desires?

  3. No, Paul, I was not expecting more than a simple setup. The reference to the sink sans faucet/tap is to draw attention to the fact they there must be waste water (and sewage from the bathroom) and was curious how the architect had dealt with this problem.
    Michael