Hee House, designed by Studio Ellsinger, stands on a flat plot just south of Hamburgsund on Sweden’s West Coast. Framed by pines, weathered rocks, and meadow grass, the vacation home balances a modest footprint with a sense of generous interior scale. The design responds directly to the site’s prevailing coastal climate, using durable materials and careful orientation to protect against wind and rain.
From the north, the façade remains closed to shield views from the road and neighboring properties. Toward the south and east, large openings draw in daylight and connect the interiors to the forest edge and open fields. This dual character — introverted on approach, expansive within — establishes a clear distinction between shelter and landscape.
images © Christopher Hunt
Vertical Space and Structural Ingenuity
At only 7 by 7 meters in plan and reaching 7 meters in height, Studio Ellsinger’s Hee House achieves surprising volume. To preserve clear sightlines and avoid structural elements interrupting the main space, the design moves roof loads into a horizontal laminated timber frame. This strategy eliminates the need for bracing or exposed beams that would segment the experience of the tall room.
The architects clad the roof and all gable surfaces in untreated aluminum sinus sheeting, chosen for its resistance to the harsh coastal conditions and its ability to weather naturally over time. A cantilevered canopy extends from the main volume, reinforcing the house’s protective posture while marking the entry.
Hee House by Studio Ellsinger is located just south of Hamburgsund on Sweden’s West Coast
Custom Detailing for a design-minded client
The clients — a photographer and a writer, both working within design — worked together with Studio Ellsinger and brought an informed perspective to the Hee House. Their openness to unconventional solutions led to a fully bespoke approach. Nearly every element was designed specifically for the house, from the window profiles to the kitchen and fitted furnishings.
Inside, the layout organizes a large central volume around a lofted platform. Beneath the loft, a compact sequence of rooms includes a hallway, bathroom, and private bedroom. The loft itself is held aloft by a bookshelf that stretches the full width of the space. This single piece serves as structural support, storage, and the main room divider, integrating a fireplace and extensive shelving in one continuous element.
the house sits on a flat plot surrounded by pines rocks and meadow grass
HEE HOUSE TURNS A COMPACT FOOTPRINT
The project’s compact geometry ultimately relies on a careful overlap of functions rather than on reducing the experience of space. Structure becomes furniture, storage becomes partition, and circulation is folded into the main volume, allowing the 49-square-meter footprint to feel considerably larger than its dimensions suggest. Materials are kept direct and robust, reinforcing the house’s relationship with its exposed coastal setting.
Across its architecture, Hee House turns constraint into a defining quality. Its small footprint, defensive northern façade, open southern orientation, and highly integrated interior all work together as parts of the same strategy. The result is a vacation home that feels both protected and expansive, using precision rather than excess to create a strong sense of place.
the exterior is clad in untreated aluminium sinus sheeting for durability in harsh weather
a laminated timber frame carries roof loads to keep the main volume visually clear
the clients are a photographer and a writer, both engaged in design and architecture
the volume is compact, organized with a 7 by 7 meter floorplan
the design closes off views to the north while opening fully to the forest and fields
project info:
name: Hee House
architect: Studio Ellsinger | @studioellsinger
location: Hee, Sweden
lead architect: Mikael Ellsinger
area: 506 square meters
completion: 2024
photography: © Christopher Hunt | @photographer.christopher.hunt
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