Elegantly situated and interwoven with the sloping terrain, the two villas on Flesaasveien boast a simple yet striking architectural design. Positioned adjacent to an existing house in a residential neighborhood to the north of Oslo, Norway, the surrounding area is characterized by lush greenery and open spaces. With a keen sensitivity to the context and site conditions, this densification project seamlessly integrates into the neighborhood without overcrowding the site. A combination of curves and straight lines in the design offers a refreshing yet modern aesthetic.
The villas are carefully designed to preserve the view from the existing house while providing privacy for their inhabitants and maximizing views towards the distant fjord. In the villa situated towards the west, an entrance area with a double-storey height connects to the stair, gracefully ascending along the northern wall to the open living and kitchen area with its own terrace, embraced by a sloping timber wall. The rooms on the first floor are all oriented towards the garden.
The second villa features a spacious kitchen with morning light filtering through the adjacent birch trees on the main floor, along with a living area whose facade opens up to the scenic view. Both the elevated base and the top floor contain bedrooms, as well as a smaller living room connected to the integrated terrace on the top floor.
The exterior is clad in untreated heartwood pine, with rounded outer corners providing a dynamic yet soft and fluid appearance. Both houses are constructed using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), with exposed timber surfaces creating an organic and warm atmosphere in the interior. The untreated heartwood facade will naturally grey over time, blending harmoniously with the surrounding trees and landscape. Terraces are integrated into the villa's floor plans to optimize views and sunlight exposure while maintaining privacy from neighboring houses.
The garden has been meticulously landscaped with native flora to support local biodiversity.