A link between old and new | Rays of light between past and future
The L15 project is located in Lillesand, a small town close to the Norwegian coastline in the south of Norway, on a family-owned property build around an old orchard. The extension accommodates an open-plan dining, kitchen, and living area as well as an outdoor dining area overlooking the garden.
One of the aims for the expansion of this single family house was to create a harmonious ensemble of old and new while respecting the building`s natural surroundings. To achieve this, it was important to acknowledge the history of the place with the neighboring buildings, the surrounding rocky landscape, the indigenous tall pine trees, the cultivated garden - and integrate them into the overall design of the new extension.
The angular plan layout opens up in three directions, all of which lead to different parts of the site`s history. Through the footprint the extension creates new outdoor spaces, and views, which seeks to optimize the site, and connect the house to the garden, the place and the history.
The sun rises every morning from the old main farm in the east, and shines directly through the main axis of the extension and into the flowering garden in west, as a reminder of the place`s history but with rays of light towards a new day . By positioning the extension parallel to the road, oriented towards the existing house, an outdoor space is created to the south-west that is sheltered from the sun and wind, as well as affording privacy.
One aim was to create a site-adapted contemporary extension combining good craftsmanship and durable materials; a building that is built sustainably for the long term, both in terms of environment, life cycle and functionality, with all main functions and qualities available from the same floor. In the project, the best building traditions from the past are used in combination with materials from the present. Rather than imitating the architecture of the existing house that dates back to the 1980s, the extension has clean surfaces and a star shaped wooden construction clad in large facade panels and floor -to ceiling glass openings that contrasts strongly, while not dominating or competing with it .
Another aim was to preserve the spruce and pine trees and the cultivated garden that the owner has created over several decades. By cantilevering the extension above the bedrock and keeping the large rhododendron plants, which create a windshield and a picture motif in the room, the landscape has been respected and integrated. Generous sliding glass doors open to the flowering bushes and bring nature into the space. Neutral colors ensure that it remains the main focus.
While the extension opens up to the existing building and garden in the south, it is closed towards the gravel road in the north. By perforating this closed façade of panels with small, punctured holes in a motif of an abstracted tree branch, the extension echoes the old orchard of trees.
Team:
Architecture, Interior Architecture & Landscape: Sunniva Rosenberg Arkitektur
Main contractor: Byggmester Notto Høyland
Glass supplier: Sorvindu AS
Plumber: Einar Sundsdal AS
Electrical supplier: Reidar Tonnessen AS
Concrete works: Ribe betong AS
Concrete grinding: Norsk Epoxy Birkeland
Ground work: BL Anlegg AS
Roofing work: Sørensen Tak and Vedlikehold AS
Steel construction: Industri and Boligvarme AS, Jarle Skuggevik
Facade supplier: Swisspearl, Sika
Fittings/Plumber: Myhrebakken Blikk
Structural engineer: Industri and Boligvarme AS
Photographers: Sunniva N. Rosenberg, Rasmus Norlander
Materials Used:
Facade cladding: Swisspearl, Corten steel, glass
Flooring: Dinesen Douglas, white marble concrete
Doors: Reynaers, HiFinity
Windows: Reynaers
The glass is a highly insulated tempered float glass with 200 mm step edges from Guardian Glass – brand name “ClimaGuard”
Roofing: Roofing membrane
Interior lighting: Led strips, spotlights, Serge Mouille Wall Light MRZ-R2C
Interior furniture: Poul Kjærholm lounge chair, PK 24, PY61 Table coffee table, PK80 Daybed
Interior, kitchen and bathroom armature: Vola KV1, Vola 121
Bathroom: Vola fittings for sink and shower, marble tiles reused.
Screens/ Curtains: Black fitted, hidden pleated curtains. White, light 100% linen curtains.
Television/Media: Hidden canvas in the ceiling in the entire with and height of the of the east wall. Ceiling projector and hidden sound system.
Door handle: HEWI Range 120, Delugan Meisel, black
Light switches and plugs: Black young LS 990
Glass:
The glass is a highly insulated tempered float glass with 200mm step edges from Guardian Glass – brand name “ClimaGuard”.
The glass used is from Reynaers, and the front east façade glass is stepped 200 mm on all four sides. A specially designed glass fin is also used inside in the center of this glass, constructively, to strengthen against wind load, and at the same time a visual transparency, and almost uninterrupted lines of sight, area achieved.
The sliding door are HiFinity, and the glass Reynaers CW50.
