Restoration of a 1700’s cottage
Own practice (architect and carpenter)
Västra Ämtervik, Sweden
Ongoing
Lillstugan, the oldest building on my family’s farm in Sweden, dates back to the 1700s. Over the centuries it has served many purposes - housing farm workers, functioning as a wood workshop, and providing space for laundry. When mold was found in the foundation, we had to strip almost everything inside, uncovering layers of history within the walls. We are now gradually restoring both the interior and exterior, giving the cottage a new life as a guest house.
The project is carried out in two phases: first the ground floor, then the upper floor. By opening a timber wall on the ground floor, circulation was created around the chimney breast (murstocken), also allowing space for a toilet. The old layers of wallpaper were preserved, with a new layer added on top. The upper floor is now being transformed from an uninsulated attic into two bedrooms. The existing roof structure is reinforced with struts between the floor joists and rafters, which also function as the framework for new built-in wardrobes.