Tucked away in a valley on the west coast of Sweden is Hus-1, a tiny home that resembles a giant log. The eco-lodge is a free-standing structure that was designed and built by Scandinavian architect and carpenter, Torsten Ottesjö. The original concept was to create a structure that would reflect its landscape without attracting too much attention.
“I wanted to try to build a house which was seen as beautiful in the same complex way as nature,” states Ottesjö. The result is an energy-efficient small home that was cheap to build and has minimal impact on its surrounding environment.
The small 25 square meter (269 sq ft) home features intricate wooden flooring and curved surfaces, accredited to Ottesjö’s craftsmanship. “By using doubled-curved surfaces and complex forms, I wanted to adapt the house to nature’s infinite variety of form,” says Ottesjö.
The home is large enough to comfortably house two people, with enough room to cater for guests or entertaining. Integrated within the small space is a central kitchen, dining and living area, hallway, sleeping quarters and outdoor terrace.
As for the bathroom, it looks like it has been left off the plans and the backyard shed will have to suffice - not the most convenient design for those chilly Swedish winters! Wooden materials play a prominent role in the home’s framework, insulation, surface layer and fittings. Overall, the surface layers have been kept untreated or white-pigmented with linseed oil.
Despite the lightweight construction of bended and glued dry wood, the building is able to maintain stability. This is achieved by the reinforced board framework and load distribution across larger areas.
Protected from the elements, the exterior walls and roofing have a surface layer of biodegradable, cellulose-based, reinforced board which is wind- and water-resistant. Furthermore, the home can be easily moved and transported to its desired destination. “I wanted to have the opportunity to build the whole house in a hallway in order to lift it easily and transport it, by road, in one piece,” says Ottesjö.
