The studio of Swedish architect Måns Tham tends to produce work that displays an alluring balance between a textural celebration of materiality and structural practicality, and its latest residential project is no different. Located in Edsåsdalen in Sweden, a small, friendly village just south of the Åre alpine ski resort, within a lush expanse of spruce and pine, is this A-frame house. Conceived as a ski lodge and inspired by the irregular beauty of the mountain range it faces, the structure is a twist on the traditional A-frame that slots modern luxuries into the timeless design and craftsmanship of the genre.
Heat-treated pine slats clad the north-western and south-eastern façades of the house, punctuated by angular windows. Granite-coloured folded aluminium sheets were moulded by hand to fit the unique curves of the roof. ‘The triangular shape makes the house into a little mountain top in itself,' Tham explains. ‘As snow piles up in winter the edge between ground and house gets blurred.'
An A-frame house and ski lodge
The A-frame house is split between two levels, and was partially constructed using prefabricated A-frame trusses. A sequence of curved dormer windows was added to increase the height of the upper floor and ensure spaciousness in areas which would have felt otherwise limited. Long sightlines are revealed through sliding doors and frameless windows. The openings are large enough to flood all rooms with natural sunlight, even during the boreal winter.
The ski lodge is large enough to sleep 12, divided into three suites, each with its own bathroom and lounge. A lobby with storage space for ski equipment welcomes you upon arrival. The master bedroom is positioned just by this entrance area, featuring a window offering a view over the mountains to the south.
An L-shaped sofa hugs nearly the full perimeter of the ground floor’s living room, with cushions matching the colour of the polished, poured concrete floor. The central fireplace is formed by a curved wall of locally sourced, dark glazed bricks, which appear almost pearlescent.
Most fixed furnishings such as these, as well as the kitchen island, closets, and guest room beds are bespoke to fit perfectly the dimensions and features of the house. ‘It has a palette adjusted to the rest of the house – greys and [beiges], wood and stainless steel,' Tham says, ‘in order to be part of the whole.' Even the blinds in the gable bedrooms are custom fit to block the summer’s midnight sun.
A haven of serenity and relaxation, the ground floor also boasts a jacuzzi, spa, and steam sauna room. Bathrooms are dark, tiled with forest green bricks and oiled wood. The fittings here are simple, unembellished, to ensure the guest's attention is directed towards the tranquillity of the skies and forest.
Time is an oft-forgotten layer in architecture, but Tham is taking it into account here. The house’s interior reddish larch wood-panelled walls, ceilings, and upper floors, will weather to a deeper brown as they age. Lighting is another key feature of the ski lodge – from the silhouettes of lighting fixtures that echo the house’s triangular structure, to the gold brushed wall lights complementing the warm furnishings.
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