Villa MSV evolves together with the nature around it

Designed by Johan Sundberg Arkitektur, Villa MSV is a private home perfected with inventive details, combining Scandinavian minimalism and a deep-rooted connection with nature.

A STONE'S THROW from the white sandy beaches of Ljunghusen, Sweden, sheltered by tall copper-hued pines, sits Villa MSV – a home designed for an adult couple, but with enough space for friends, children, and grandchildren.

Created by Johan Sundberg Arkitektur, Villa MSV is an inventive combination of minimalist Nordic aesthetics and a deep-rooted connection with nature, which is present both in the choice of materials and in the overall design and placement of the building.

Villa MSV draws inspiration from a classic Scandinavian atrium house typology, where the house defines and demarcates the surrounding garden and nature. Instead of the typical L-shaped layout, lead architect Johan Sundberg wanted to shape the concept of the atrium house so that each side of the house would have a function of its own.

Villa MSV draws inspiration from a classic Scandinavian atrium house typology, where the house defines and demarcates the surrounding garden and nature.

“The challenge of a regular atrium style L-shaped plan is that one of the sides tends to get lost as just being in the back. I want all sides of my buildings to be useful and valuable, and so we developed a T-shaped layout for the house”, Sundberg tells Design Stories.

The building has indeed been fully harnessed for use with the patios and garden areas that surround it, each of which has its own function and personality.

On the east side of the building, you can enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace connecting the kitchen and living room as the sun rises, while the patio on the western façade offers space for socializing, dining, and admiring the vermilion glow of the pines as the sun sets.

The southern wing is dedicated to relaxation and bathing in the sauna, and from the bathroom, there is direct access to the garden swimming pool and terrace equipped with an outdoor shower.

Villa MSV is located in the heart of a beautiful Nordic pine forest landscape, and the materials have also been chosen in accordance with the environment.

The natural color palette deepens as the years roll by, with patina adding on stories of sun-drenched summers and frosty winters to the surfaces.

Narrow pine paneling, soft gray brick surfaces, a zinc sheet roof, and patios combining natural stone tiles and wood connect the building to the living environment and its texture-rich appearance.

The refined and reduced look of the interior serves the residents' passion for art, allowing colorful works to take center stage. Large windows and glass sliding doors also invite the soft tones of the surrounding pine forest and the greenery of the garden to become part of the interior.

The refined and reduced look of the interior serves the residents' passion for art, allowing colorful works to take center stage.

The stone slab and the wooden parquet treated in a gentle light shade sit harmoniously side by side in the space, reflecting the materials of the facade and outdoor spaces. In addition to the bright-colored artworks, the serenity of the simplified color palette is disrupted by carefully thought-out splashes of color, such as the bright blue shower wall in the bathroom.

Surprising details, such as stone baseboards and the ingeniously implemented vertical paneling in the shower room add just the right amount of oomph to Villa MSV's understated look. References that soften the border between indoor and outdoor spaces, such as a fireplace built from bricks used in the outdoor spaces and the almost identical paneling of the sauna and the façade, are particularly pleasing.

The end result of the ambitious project is a timelessly elegant yet original building, whose potential and appeal will only continue to develop in the coming years, together with the surrounding environment.

See also:

• @johansundbergarkitektur on Instagram >
• Design Stories: Something to sooth the senses – introducing Andrum, an experiential spa in Sweden >

Text: Mira Ahola Images: Markus Linderoth