Bergman-Werntoft House is situated in the heart of Ljungskogen forest, covering larger portions of the Ljunghusen residential area in Vellinge, south of Malmo, Sweden. The earth is sandy and the flat ground is covered by a young pine forest. The site has therefore no views into the landscape. Architecture firm Johan Sundberg Arkitektur was inspired by the design of the Danish atrium typology from the 60s and 70s and has an outer brick wall and an inner facade which is mostly glazed. The northern wing contains sleeping quarters and bathrooms; the eastern wing is the living area. The house is penetrated by several lightwells, and lines-of-sight play with the eye as you move through the rooms.

The inner and outer walls of the building are folded and doors and windows move in and out of alignment along the outer walls. This helps define spaces and views, frames the nature outside and creates an inner life. In the inner courtyard, the same variations in the facade help create a relationship between the different wings of the house, and lines-of-sight that act as “internal” vistas. In this way, the inner spaces of the house are extended into the courtyard.

The structure is based on a timber frame with steel reinforcements, placed on a concrete slab. The roof is made with a system of laminated veneer lumber which has been tapered towards the courtyard. The plastered walls are made of gas concrete and are painted black. The timbered walls are clad with planed Siberian larch.

An important goal has been to invite nature into the house and to dissolve the climate barrier. There is a winter garden which can be completely opened on two sides, several sliding glass doors and the floors on the inside and outside have the same level.

Photos: Henrik Magnusson