A striking new residential project in Sweden's Stockholm Archipelago demonstrates how contemporary architecture can seamlessly integrate with dramatic natural settings. Villa Vy, designed by architect Ida Tinning of Studio Ida Tinning, represents a masterful interpretation of Nordic cabin architecture that balances openness with shelter while celebrating the surrounding landscape.
The project's name, "Vy," meaning "view" in Swedish, perfectly encapsulates the design philosophy behind this 115-square-meter residence completed in 2025. The house is strategically positioned among windswept pines and exposed granite outcrops, with its design focused on framing and elevating the experience of the extraordinary vistas that define the Stockholm Archipelago setting.
Villa Vy's architectural composition consists of two distinct volumes that are slightly offset in height, creating a dynamic yet harmonious silhouette. The lower, horizontal wing houses the main social areas including the kitchen, dining room, and living spaces, which open generously to both the sea and the backyard treetops through full-height glazing and sliding doors. The taller, more private volume contains intimate functions such as bedrooms and bathrooms, offering views over the forest canopy. These two volumes are connected by a central link that serves as both circulation space and an architectural hinge.
The structural design of Villa Vy showcases a clear and rhythmic tectonic language built around a repetitive wooden post-and-beam system. Rather than concealing its structural logic, the house celebrates it, with exposed rafters and beams forming a measured framework that brings calm continuity and coherence to both interior and exterior spaces. Each detail has been precisely considered, with every connection remaining legible and honest to the building's construction method.
Sustainability and site sensitivity were paramount considerations in the project's development. The house rests lightly on the terrain with minimal excavation, utilizing a point foundation system that elevates the structure above the granite surface while preserving both the existing topography and vegetation. A series of wooden terraces and boardwalks guide movement across the uneven site, ensuring minimal disruption to the natural environment.
The material palette reflects a commitment to natural weathering and quiet integration with the landscape over time. The project features Sioox-treated wood, wooden glazing frames, slim steel railings, and natural stone, all chosen to age gracefully and blend with their surroundings. Manufacturers Sioox and WB Trä provided key materials for the construction, supporting the project's emphasis on quality and durability.
Inside Villa Vy, the atmosphere is characterized by serenity and tactile richness. Pale timber surfaces and soft grey limestone create a refined interior environment that allows light to move freely through the spaces while maintaining an intimate dialogue with nature. The bathroom, fully clad in stone, becomes a private sanctuary featuring a built-in bench and overhead rain shower, exemplifying the project's attention to both luxury and simplicity.
Photographer Johan Eldrot's images reveal how Villa Vy achieves its goal of being architecture rooted in restraint, rhythm, and reverence for its setting. Rather than imposing itself as an object placed in the landscape, the house presents itself as a carefully assembled presence within the natural environment. Despite its modest scale of just 115 square meters, the residence offers rich spatial quality that provides a thoughtful model for sustainable and site-sensitive living in challenging natural environments.
