Vinterro Cabins / R21 Arkitekter

Architects: R21 Arkitekter
Year: 2024
Photographs: Mariela Apollonio
Construction: RH Kvalitetsbygg AS
Country: Norway

Vinterro Cabins by R21 Arkitekter comprises 26 weekend townhouses in Kvitfjell, a ski resort three hours from Oslo. Positioned in a valley at the resort’s highest point, the design prioritizes upper floors for integration with the surroundings and cross views: morning sun on one side and sunset over ski slopes on the other. Each unit contains two apartments with bedrooms on the lower floor and open-plan living spaces above. Party walls house vertical circulation and services, freeing the perimeter for light-filled spaces. The kitchen, integrated as a “third facade,” connects views on both sides. Each townhouse features a single-pitched roof, aligning with the site’s topography. A ventilated wood system, inspired by traditional stacked wood techniques, uses treated wood to prevent ice and deterioration. Protruding windows support balconies, protect from winds, ensure privacy, and orient facades toward views. Exposed roof structures and ventilated facades give the project a light, cohesive, tectonic character.

The project involves the design and construction of 26 townhouses intended for weekend use, located in Kvitfjell, a ski resort approximately three hours from Oslo. Positioned in a small valley at the resort’s highest point, the location significantly influenced the design by prioritizing the upper floor to achieve better visual integration with the surrounding environment. The primary objective was to create cross views: on one side, the morning sun with Kvitfjell’s peak in the background, and on the other, the sunset overlooking the ski slopes.

Each unit comprises two apartments distributed across two floors. To maintain unobstructed views, the bedrooms and service areas are located on the lower floor, while the upper floor is reserved for common and daytime spaces. The services and vertical circulation are concentrated within the party walls, ensuring the independence of each unit and freeing the perimeter for living spaces, which benefit from ample natural light. The upper floor, designed as an open plan, enhances functional flexibility and ensures optimal lighting throughout. The kitchen is thoughtfully integrated into the wall as a “third facade” rather than an isolated feature, establishing a visual connection between both sides of the building, maximizing views, and reinforcing spatial continuity. The party wall aligns with the roof ridge, organizing each house under a single-pitched roof. As a result, while each building remains an independent unit, it integrates cohesively into the overall design, respecting the natural topography of the site.

A ventilated wood system was selected for the construction, drawing inspiration from the region’s traditional stacked wood construction methods. The exposed wood is treated to resist deterioration and prevent ice formation on the upper layers, thereby significantly increasing its durability. The building volumes protrude in the window areas, supporting the balconies while ensuring privacy between units and shielding them from prevailing winds. These projections are carefully oriented towards the views and shape the facades into a cross-like configuration.

The integration of ventilated facades and the exposed roof structure lends the complex a unique tectonic character. This construction approach transforms the volumes into planes and the planes into lines, enhancing the project’s visual lightness and reinforcing its formal coherence.