Torsten Ottesjö, an architect inspired by nature

With a surface area of just 25 square-meters, living space in “Hus-1” is certainly compact, meaning an ingenious spatial concept was called for. Both Hus-1 and Hönshus-1 have been conceptual works, made by Torsten Ottesjö, for defining a building style and experimenting with spaces. OTTESJÖ is an architect based on the Scandinavian west coast. He believes in complexity, improvisation, and functionality and he wants to inspire a different sort of building - something more suited to human beings.

In close consultation with the house’s two occupants, who live in “Hus-1” throughout the entire year, the interior walls and the flooring have been fitted with light wood paneling. Most of the furniture has been custom-made for their home by Ottesjö himself, and so blends seamlessly into the space, while skillfully dividing the living space up into the respective functional areas, such as the sleeping quarters and dining area. Thanks on the one hand to the use of natural materials and on the other to the glazed façade at the narrower end of the building, the interior retains a feeling of spaciousness and brightness despite limited space. At the same time, the inward-tilting, gabled walls create a sense of security for it inhabitants.Ottesjö paid very close attention to ecological aspects when planning the project. The building’s reduced dimensions spelled low costs for materials and simultaneously mean that its occupants consume less energy. Furthermore, during the construction process only biodegradable materials were used. The roof and walls have been treated with a cellulose-based coating that renders the wooden exterior resistant to wind and water but is still recyclable. Finally “Hus-1” was conceived in such a way that the entire structure can be removed at any time, without difficulty, in one piece – leaving nature to its own devices once again. Ottesjö said about his work: "Buildings are often seen as rigid and ugly, while untouched Nature is considered as being undoubtedly beautiful. Trying to reproduce Nature may be seen as ugly, but never the original in itself. The untamed Nature is a source of incessant beauty. Why is this? Is it because the beauty of Nature lies in its complexities and its eternal variety? Our mind is simply stimulated by our insufficiency in facing its details. We are intrigued and inspired by that which we cannot understand or even grasp. By using doubled-curved surfaces and complex forms, I wanted to adapt the house to Nature’s infinite variety of form".

Sources: stylepark.com; ottesjö.se