H House

Residential

Private villa

Nacka, Sweden

Completed (2024)

Emma Jönsson Dysell

H House takes its cue from the owner’s fascination with World War II–era bunkers that punctuate the Swedish coastline. The initial ambition was a concrete dwelling that felt almost reclaimed by nature – a rough, moss-softened volume embedded in the landscape. As the design evolved, an upper level in smooth, knot-free pine was introduced, adding a precise, crafted layer that contrasts deliberately with the raw concrete below. This play between rough and refined became the guiding principle of the project.

Predominantly rectilinear in form, the house is gently unsettled by moments of curvature that underscore these contrasts. At the heart of the ground floor, a bespoke stainless-steel kitchen island – designed specifically for the project – introduces soft, rounded geometries. The island’s finely brushed surface catches and diffuses light throughout the day, creating a subtle choreography of reflections and shadow that enlivens the otherwise pared-back interior.

The entrance level is conceived as a social realm, opening up for cooking, dining and gathering, while a staircase suspended above an indoor planting bed leads to the more intimate upper floor. Here, muted acoustics, warm timber surfaces and carefully framed views from every room create a calm, retreat-like atmosphere, completing the house’s narrative of tension and balance between the brutal and the serene.