Cabin Ryfylke
Olav Resell

Cabin Ryfylke

The cabin is situated in gently sloping terrain on a lush small island northeast of Stavanger. The island has no road connection to the mainland, and all building materials have therefore been transported to the site by boat.


The enclosing shape is chosen to create a protected and sunny outdoor space with views over the fjord to the south. In this area of the country the general rule is that winds from the north bring clear skies and sunny weather. On the south side of the cabin, one is therefore protected against the strongest winds during good weather. The cabins common spaces, such as living room, dining room and kitchen caters onto this side, while the majority of bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the opposite side, where they lie sheltered facing the forest.


The cabin has an upper level designed for multipurpose use, accessible via stairs from the kitchen/entrance area. This space is strongly connected to the other common spaces, and window openings have been made in roof and walls to ensure visual contact with the fjord and the surroundings.


The client wanted maximum utilization of the permissible built-up area, and had specific requirements as to how many people would be able to stay at the cabin simultaneously. In order to meet these wishes the amount of areas only used for movement is reduced to a minimum, while the entire upper level has a height that excludes these areas from the total square footage. Furthermore, the design of integrated and space-saving solutions for beds, cupboards and other storage has made it possible to create compact, yet versatile spaces.


A Norwegian slate stone is used on the outer shape of the facade, while counter-sunken areas of the facade are clad with a wooden paneling. The diamond shaped slate is stretched longitudinally and format sizes are pushed towards the maximum of what is possible to extract. The slate is dark grey/black and contains iron, which gives a natural color changing play under different weather and lighting conditions. The wooden cladding is made of acetylated wood, which has a stability that has made it possible to work with a very high level of precision in all transitions without the danger of movement and displacement.


Ash is chosen as the main interior material, and it is used in various ways; as paneling on ceiling and walls, plywood on walls and solid furnishings, and as solid wood flooring on the upper level. The floors on the ground floor are made of polished concrete with integrated water heating.


A key element in the cabin is the concrete structure in the living room. It is cast with horizontal paneling formwork, and houses a wood burning stove that function as a fireplace when open and as an oven when closed. The structure acts as a heat storage element in the cabin.

Cabin Ryfylke

On a small Norwegian island, this cabin on a gently sloping site has an enclosing shape that helps that helps to create a protected sunny outdoor space with views over the fjord to the south. The form is clad with dark grey Norwegian slate stone tiles and counter-sunken areas with a wooden paneling.


The diamond shaped slate tiles contain iron, allowing for natural colour change and play under different weather and lighting conditions. The wooden cladding is made from acetylated wood, which has a stability that makes it possible to work with a very high level of precision. Inside, ash is used in a variety of ways - as paneling on ceilings and walls, plywood on walls and furnishing and as a solid flooring on the upper level. Meanwhile, floors on the ground floor are made of polished concrete with integrated water heating.


Another key element in the cabin is the concrete structure in the living room. Cast with horizontal paneling formwork, it houses a wood burning stove that functions as a fireplace when open and as an oven when closed. The structure further acts as a heat storage element in the cabin. 


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The cabin is situated in gently sloping terrain on a lush small island northeast of Stavanger. The island has no road connection to the mainland, and all building materials have therefore been transported to the site by boat.


The enclosing shape is chosen to create a protected and sunny outdoor space with views over the fjord to the south. In this area of the country the general rule is that winds from the north bring clear skies and sunny weather. On the south side of the cabin, one is therefore protected against the strongest winds during good weather. The cabins common spaces, such as living room, dining room and kitchen caters onto this side, while the majority of bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the opposite side, where they lie sheltered facing the forest. The cabin has an upper level designed for multipurpose use, accessible via stairs from the kitchen/entrance area. This space is strongly connected to the other common spaces, and window openings have been made in roof and walls to ensure visual contact with the fjord and the surroundings.


The client wanted maximum utilization of the permissible built-up area, and had specific requirements as to how many people would be able to stay at the cabin simultaneously. In order to meet these wishes the amount of areas only used for movement is reduced to a minimum, while the entire upper level has a height that excludes these areas from the total square footage. Furthermore, the design of integrated and space-saving solutions for beds, cupboards and other storage has made it possible to create compact, yet versatile spaces.


A Norwegian slate stone is used on the outer shape of the facade, while counter-sunken areas of the facade are clad with a wooden paneling. The diamond shaped slate is stretched longitudinally and format sizes are pushed towards the maximum of what is possible to extract. The slate is dark grey/black and contains iron, which gives a natural color changing play under different weather and lighting conditions. The wooden cladding is made of acetylated wood, which has a stability that has made it possible to work with a very high level of precision in all transitions without the danger of movement and displacement.


Ash is chosen as the main interior material, and it is used in various ways; as paneling on ceiling and walls, plywood on walls and solid furnishings, and as solid wood flooring on the upper level. The floors on the ground floor are made of polished concrete with integrated water heating.


A key element in the cabin is the concrete structure in the living room. It is cast with horizontal paneling formwork, and houses a wood burning stove that function as a fireplace when open and as an oven when closed. The structure acts as a heat storage element in the cabin.


Brand description
Accoya® is the world’s leading timber product. Manufactured by Accsys Technologies, it is one of the most advanced wood products on the market, using the latest in wood acetylation technology to deliver outstanding levels of performance, stability and durability. Providing the same high-quality and aesthetic attributes of tropical hardwoods, it also boasts excellent environmental credentials by using wood sourced from FSC certified and sustainable forests, while being 100% non-toxic. A high performance, sustainable and low maintenance timber, Accoya can be used for many applications, including windows, doors, decking, cladding and glulam structural beams. It’s outstanding properties, including class 1 durability and a 50 year above ground guarantee, have led to Accoya being used in many demanding internal and external applications. For more information, visit www.accoya.com.
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