Grimeton Nature Reserve

In small distance from the Varberg town in Sweden, in the national natural reserve of Grimeton, a refugium was constructed in 2007 from the architect Petra Gipp. The whole idea of the refugium was to represent a habitation and workplace for the care and administration of the forest in forthcoming generations.

Highly situated on a plateau by one of the smaller lakes, Rörsjön, the refugium and the barn are solitarily located. The barn connects to the newly constructed wood road. Here the forest opens up and creates a place where the encounter between the modern forestry and the old forest are made visible. Here, the forest guard is working with demands for rational forestry and recreation, for peace of mood and sense and that's why that point was chosen for location.

On the top of the hill, the refugium is situated, low-voiced and functional, with the dark introvert façade where only the entrance box breaks the otherwise austere façade. Not before walking along the steep slope towards the house one sees, through the entrance box and the whole building, the magnificent view over the woods and the lake, which with its mist creates an almost bewitching atmosphere.

The construction consists of two distinct volumes, tarred wood stand on an open foundation and details out of concrete, zinc and teak grants sophistication. The varying wood facade folds in under the volume, its corners are mitred and it follows the jutting and suppressed parts, externally as well as internally. The window details are made out of teak, while the fireplace and the exposed surfaces are made out of concrete, for instance the entrance floor and the kitchen- and bathroom work surfaces.

Architectural intervention into the natural reserve needed attention as far as the old forest is concerned, while the construction according to the architect needed to represent humbleness into the environment. The foundation high above the ground indicates the wish to leave the ground untouched, visually and conceptually.

Architect: Petra Gipp
Location: Varberg, Sweden
Project area: 108 sqm
Project year: 2007
Images and information: courtesy Petra Gipp architectural office

Editing: Panagiota- Nefeli Mavroeidi