HOUSING IN NORRA VÄSJÖN
The project is situated in Norra Väsjön, Sollentuna, spanning two adjacent plots — Norrsättra 1:38 and 1:46 — on either side of a local road. The development comprises three individual houses, each with its own private garden, carefully positioned within a sloping, wooded landscape.
Project Facts
Type HOUSING
Location SOLLENTUNA, SWEDEN
Year 2024
Team ANA GARCÍA-AVELLO MÉNDEZ , CAROLINA WIKSTRÖM, OKSANA PIDLETEICHUK
The main principle – sense of place
The project is rooted in a strong dialogue between architecture and its natural surroundings. Changing ground levels and proximity to open green corridors shape both the positioning and form of the houses. The buildings are placed to follow the terrain, allowing the existing landscape to remain a defining element.Materiality and form are kept simple and coherent, with gabled silhouettes and vertical cladding that echo the vernacular of Swedish timber houses, modern detailing, such as floor-to-ceiling windows, gives a contemporary identity. Each home balances privacy and connection: gardens and terraces are oriented toward quieter green spaces, while entrances and shared forecourts engage with the public side of the street.
The site plan
On the west side of the road, a single elongated house stretches along the plot’s depth, oriented to capture views towards the surrounding greenery. A detached garage sits at the front, creating a defined arrival sequence and buffering the residence from the street.
On the east side, two other houses are placed in parallel, each with a compact configuration and direct street access. The driveways and entrances are positioned between the buildings, creating a shared forecourt while maintaining privacy within the garden areas.
The interior layout
The houses on the east are arranged over three levels: a ground floor with a garage, kitchen and open-plan living spacesconnected to the garden, first and second floors containing bedrooms, and even more shared open space on the second floor. The stepped site allows the basement to integrate naturally into the terrain, reducing the visible mass from the street.
The buildings’ gable form is expressed through a simple, vertical façade rhythm, with timber cladding that wraps continuously from walls to roof. Large windows frame views toward the surrounding greenery, while a horizontal balcony line on the upper level provides outdoor space and a visual break in the elevation.
The materials
Timber vertical cladding that wraps walls and roofs in a continuous surface gives the houses a warm, tactile presence and allows them to blend with the surrounding vegetation. Balconies and terraces extend the living spaces outward, strengthening the connection between interior life and the landscape.
