In the scenic coastal region of Kalmar, Sweden, a new summer house stands in quiet harmony with its surroundings. Designed by the studios Bross and Nick Flygt, the home, named Horsö, is a study in minimalist integration. Situated on a site defined by a dense woodland on one side and expansive views of the Kalmarsund strait on the other, the architects’ primary goal was to ensure the dwelling had a “low-key presence.” By forgoing flashy design elements and instead opting for untreated local materials, the house seamlessly blends into its natural context. This project is a testament to the idea that a truly beautiful home isn’t one that dominates a landscape, but one that complements it, with a design philosophy that honors both the immediate environment and the passage of time.
A Philosophy of Subtlety
The design of Horsö is a deliberate act of architectural restraint. Rather than imposing a grand structure on the natural landscape, the architects sought to create a building that feels like a natural part of its environment. The home’s horizontal orientation, which correlates with the surrounding landscape, is a key element of this philosophy. By avoiding any “protruding roofs or architectural elements,” as Bross co-founder Sofia Bross explains, the building maintains a subtle profile that does not disrupt the visual flow of the site. This approach is a direct response to the project’s surroundings, ensuring the home feels integrated, rather than simply placed, within the dense woodland and open coastal plain.
The choice of materials is central to this design philosophy. The architects drew from the local environment, opting for a palette of untreated wood, stone, and timber. These materials were chosen not for their immediate polished appearance, but for their ability to “age gracefully and last over time.” This decision reflects a long-term vision for the home, where its beauty is not static but evolves with its environment. The untreated timber will weather and grey over the years, further blending the home into the natural tones of the forest and coast, creating a living structure that bears the marks of its exposure to the elements.
Dividing the Visual Volume
To further diminish the “visual volume” of the home, the architects separated it into two distinct, single-story volumes. This clever architectural move breaks down the overall mass of the building, making it feel lighter and less imposing on the site. Each volume serves a specific purpose, creating a clear division between the private and social areas of the home. The first volume contains the more enclosed, private spaces, including the bedroom, offering a sense of seclusion and retreat. The second, more open volume is dedicated to communal living and entertaining.
The two structures are linked by an area of irregular stone paving, creating a subtle transition between the two volumes and reinforcing the connection to the natural ground. Both volumes are elevated on low concrete plinths, a practical and aesthetic choice. These plinths not only give the home a clean, defined base but were also specifically designed to mitigate the risks of higher water levels in the future, a nod to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the structure. This thoughtful division and subtle elevation are instrumental in giving Horsö its low-key presence, making it feel less like a man-made construction and more like a carefully arranged part of the land.
Seamless Connection to Nature
While the private volume is designed to be more contained, the social volume is an exercise in openness and fluid connection with the outdoors. A large glazed living space opens onto a sheltered terrace, creating a powerful link between the interior and the external environment. These “large glass sections are set back into the facade,” a design choice that, as Sofia Bross notes, ensures “minimal encroachment on the natural plot.” This careful consideration allows the home to offer a gentle, unobtrusive connection to its surroundings, allowing light and views to pour in without the building feeling overly exposed.
The terrace itself is a masterfully crafted outdoor room. Overlooking both the dense forest and the expansive sea, it is anchored by a central concrete fireplace and framed by a row of slender timber columns. This space perfectly embodies the home’s philosophy, providing a defined area for gathering and relaxation that is still completely immersed in nature. The terrace is an extension of the living room, blurring the lines between inside and outside and making it possible for the residents to enjoy the tranquility of the coastal landscape from a position of shelter and comfort.
A Unified and Honest Palette
The material palette of Horsö is a testament to the beauty of honesty and simplicity. Throughout the home, the primary structure of concrete and wood is left exposed, defining the floors, walls, and ceilings in a raw, authentic manner. The concrete plinth extends inside to become the flooring, creating a durable and consistent surface that unifies the interior spaces. This raw concrete is complemented by wooden paneling and storage crafted from locally sourced timbers, adding warmth and texture to the minimalist design. The bathrooms feature elegant terrazzo, a material that continues the theme of natural, exposed elements.
This cohesive palette is a defining feature of the home. It not only creates a sense of visual unity but also ensures that the house feels genuinely connected to its environment from the inside out. Bross also designed a series of custom furniture pieces to complement the space, picking up on this material palette and adding subtle accents of bright red in the living room and terrace to provide pops of color and personality. The consistency and sincerity of the material choices underscore the home’s overall design philosophy, creating a space that is both refined and unpretentious.
A New Wave of Swedish Minimalism
The Horsö summer house stands as a powerful example of a new wave of Swedish minimalism that prioritizes a deep and respectful relationship with nature. Like other recent projects in the region, such as the minimalist home by Per Bornstein and the coastal house by Campus, Horsö moves beyond simple aesthetics to create a living space that is truly in tune with its environment. The architects have proven that a design can be both sophisticated and humble, creating a home that is a “timeless sanctuary.”
