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Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects features black-timber facade

Norm Architects creates black-timber retreat near border of Denmark and Germany

Inviting oak-lined rooms lay behind the black timber facade of Fjord Boat House, a lakeside holiday home designed by Danish practice Norm Architects.

Fjord Boat House perches on a concrete plinth beside the water and is largely imperceptible from above, thanks to its grass-topped roof.

Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects features black-timber facade
Top image: exterior of Fjord Boat House. Above: black timber beams clad the house's facade

The rest of its exterior is clad with blackened timber, but inside this gives way to a much warmer material palette.

"A refined abundance of warm textures and hues are used throughout, creating a deep sense of cosiness and comfort," said Norm Architects, which is based in Copenhagen.

Kitchen of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Oak cabinetry and brick floors feature in the kitchen

In the kitchen, oak has been used to craft handleless storage cabinets and the splashback.

Oak also lines the surrounding walls and ceilings, while the floor is inlaid with handmade ceramic bricks.

Kitchen of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects has lake views
The kitchen has direct views over the lake

A wooden dining table sits beside the kitchen's expansive front window, which overlooks the lake and drifting sailboats.

Above the dining table hangs a large, washi-paper pendant lamp that Norm Architects made in collaboration with Kojima Shouten, a Japanese brand that has specialised in making lanterns since 1789.

Living room of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Furniture pieces designed by Norm Architects have been placed in the home's living room

The practice has dressed the house with several furnishings from their own collections.

This includes the Hashira Floor Lamp and the Koku Table, which features a rounded countertop balanced on a slim metal stem on one side and a wooden leg on the other.

"[The table] is a play on balance — between the light and heavy, the transparent and monolithic," explained the practice.

"It is all about creating direction in the base whilst maintaining a symmetry on top, striving for a calm, sculptural expression without losing the obvious functionalities."

Bedroom of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Inhabitants sleep inside snug alcoves

Beyond the home's living area lies two bedrooms, both of which have been created within snug oak-lined alcoves.

Each alcove is topped by a large frameless skylight that allows inhabitants to gaze up at the sky and leafy trees outdoors.

Bedroom of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
The alcoves are topped by skylights that provide outdoor views

Norm Architects recently created another holiday home just outside of Gothenburg, Sweden. The pine-clad property, which is called Archipelago House, is made up of four pitched volumes that echo the form of traditional boathouses.

Its interior boasts minimal living spaces that take cues from both Scandinavian and Japanese design.

Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects.


Project credits:

Architecture: Norm Architects
Lead architects: Peter Eland
Contractor: W3 Construction
Architect of record: Arkitema

More images

Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects has grass-topped roof
Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects features black-timber facade
Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects features black-timber facade
Kitchen of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Kitchen of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Kitchen of Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects includes Koku Table
Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects
Bedroom skylights inside Fjord Boat House by Norm Architects