The exterior timber cladding is coated with black tar, a traditional Norwegian treatment. The finish serves a variety of purposes: solar heat gain, water resistance and insect repellant.
Located in California’s Sugar Bowl neighborhood, this shadowy lair by Mork-Ulnes Architects looks like something out of fairy tale. “We call the house Troll Hus, with a reference to the otherworldly beings in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore that are said to dwell in remote mountains,” architect Casper Mork-Ulnes says. Hovering over a concrete plinth, the vacation home accommodates three generations of skiers. The orientation of the home places most of the communal living areas along the sun-exposed south facade, and storage spaces along the north facade. The house’s concrete base allows for a ski storage and changing area during the snowy season. And when the family isn’t skiing, they can enjoy a partially roofed patio during the summer.
