A small house that wants to be big. A small footprint and simple construction means low cost. That?s the idea when we set about designing a house for a young couple on a site surrounded by other single-family homes on the west side of Gothenburg. 

© James Silverman

Architects: Wingardhs

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden

Architect: Wingårdh Arkitektkontor, Gert and Karin Wingårdh

Area: 182.0 sqm

Project Year: 2014

Photographs: James Silverman

Builder: Alfredssons Bygg & Fastighetsservice AB

Site Plan

Plan 0

From the architect. A small house that wants to be big. A small footprint and simple construction means low cost. That?s the idea when we set about designing a house for a young couple on a site surrounded by other single-family homes on the west side of Gothenburg. 
© James Silverman

We turn inward with an atrium scheme, away from the view of?and from?the neighbors. The nicest view is toward the mature trees and the exposed bedrock in the southwest, so we open the courtyard up on that side.

© James Silverman

The building is perched lightly on piers, hovering a half-meter over granite bedrock honed by the ice age. That means that to reach the building we need a stair and a ramp (accessibility requirement) along the blank northeast side. ...