Summerhouse Skåne, a renovated farmhouse | LASC Studio

An abandoned farmhouse was given a new life as a contemporary Swedish summerhouse. The owners were attracted by the traditional look and nostalgic feel of the old building. However it needed some changes to adapt to its new role. The owners asked architects LASC Studio to restore and modernize the home while retaining the heritage qualities that made the house special to them.

The architects began by removing most of the interior walls to create an open living area. The new 105 m² (1,130 ft²) floor plan also includes two bedrooms on the main level, and a third bedroom plus an open loft upstairs. The passage to the bedrooms was turned into a small library, with bookshelves and an extra-wide windowsill that serves as a desk.

The existing windows were retained but new openings were cut in the walls to bring in more natural light and allow views of the pastoral landscape. Rather than make a futile attempt to copy the detailing of the original windows, the new glazing was instead left unadorned with hidden frames and no trim, emphasizing the distinction between new and old. Likewise, a section of new concrete floor complements the original wood floors.

Concrete was also used to form the kitchen counter and sinks, and a heated bench in the bathroom. The walls and ceilings are finished with pine boards and white plaster. The pale materials are enlivened by the splashes of turquoise and golden yellow that highlight the transitions between the public and private spaces. Those colors were chosen to evoke memories of the years that the owners spent living in China, as well as to reference the bright colors of beach towels.

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Photographs by Stamers Kontor, courtesy of LASC Studio. Via Dwell.

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