Minimalist cottage stands amidst the craggy landscape of Norway.

Welcome to our gallery focusing on the ruggedly minimalist Vega Cottage project by Kolman Boye Architects.

Located in Vega, Norway, this home is an exquisite example of compact and self sufficient luxury.

A truly northerly climate, Vega stands in the Norwegian archipelago near the polar circle. The environment boasts a harsh but evocative landscape, offering expansive vistas of the Norwegian Sea and nearby jagged mountains.

The home design appears to be sprouting directly from the landscape, with its muted palette and traditional material build. The uneven terrain envelops the property, giving access through a narrow natural ravine.

The home features massive windows facing three of its four directions, each with a distinct character. These openings are simple but effective, projecting the majestic surroundings into the interior of the home.

The floor plan is organized into two levels, adapted to best take advantage of the terrain. The compact interior nonetheless provides plentiful social spaces within its limited area.

The upper level contains the smaller scale bedrooms and family room, while the lower half of the home is a more gallery-like design. This open area centers on a large stone hearth.

The caustic look of the wild landscape informs the hardy appearance of the home, informed by a minimalist ethos and the brisk local climate.

The interior boasts a warm contrast to the grey exterior, with white walls and bright hardwood flooring. This lightness, along with the open-plan design, helps the relatively cozy home feel larger inside.

This home truly stands out even amongst the spectacular homes featured on our site, so we hope you appreciate the breath of fresh air as much as we do!

Photographs: © 2013 Åke E:son Lindman
Floor plan: © 2013 Kolman Boye Architects

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As the rocky landscape cascades down this slope, the home itself emerges organically, with a color palette that blends in perfectly with the environment. Large windows offer expansive views of the surroundings.

As the rocky landscape cascades down this slope, the home itself emerges organically, with a color palette that blends in perfectly with the environment. Large windows offer expansive views of the surroundings.

The rich wood paneling of the exterior meets steel and aluminum, perfect bedfellows in protecting the interior from the harsh northerly climate. Beyond the home, we can see the Norwegian Sea and nearby mountains.

The rich wood paneling of the exterior meets steel and aluminum, perfect bedfellows in protecting the interior from the harsh northerly climate. Beyond the home, we can see the Norwegian Sea and nearby mountains.

With a long distance shot, we can fully appreciate the mythical landscape this home is planted into. The tough, minimalist structure looks nearly as timeless as the mountains.

With a long distance shot, we can fully appreciate the mythical landscape this home is planted into. The tough, minimalist structure looks nearly as timeless as the mountains.

Inside the home, we can see out over the surrounding countryside via massive windows. The Dutch door at right serves the same purpose it originally had, allowing in light and air while filtering out low-level dust that swirls over the dry landscape.

Inside the home, we can see out over the surrounding countryside via massive windows. The Dutch door at right serves the same purpose it originally had, allowing in light and air while filtering out low-level dust that swirls over the dry landscape.

Now we see the interior filled with furniture. The open plan and natural wood furniture pieces emphasize a coherency of style and design.

Now we see the interior filled with furniture. The open plan and natural wood furniture pieces emphasize a coherency of style and design.

The vaulted ceiling in the living room helps to emphasize a sense of vast scale that corresponds to the landscape. This makes the most of the relatively small footprint of the home.

The vaulted ceiling in the living room helps to emphasize a sense of vast scale that corresponds to the landscape. This makes the most of the relatively small footprint of the home.

Over the natural wood chairs and through the vast living room window, se can see the mountains rising in the distance, across acres of rocky terrain. The windows are framed in light natural wood for high contrast.

Over the natural wood chairs and through the vast living room window, se can see the mountains rising in the distance, across acres of rocky terrain. The windows are framed in light natural wood for high contrast.

In the central area of the lower level, a massive wall-size bookshelf system was built-in. Here we see another massive window across the expanse of hardwood flooring, as well as a peek into the second floor.

In the central area of the lower level, a massive wall-size bookshelf system was built-in. Here we see another massive window across the expanse of hardwood flooring, as well as a peek into the second floor.

Viewing the corner of the living room, emptied of furniture, we can appreciate the clean lines and warm tone of the white walls and rich natural wood. We can also appreciate the vast landscape unfurling beyond the windows.

Viewing the corner of the living room, emptied of furniture, we can appreciate the clean lines and warm tone of the white walls and rich natural wood. We can also appreciate the vast landscape unfurling beyond the windows.

Here's a view from the upper level, with a close look at the white wall and ceiling paneling, as well as the rich natural hardwood flooring.

Here’s a view from the upper level, with a close look at the white wall and ceiling paneling, as well as the rich natural hardwood flooring.

The narrow road leading to the home is dotted with similarly muted homes, in a variety of colors that help them stand out amidst the harsh landscape.

The narrow road leading to the home is dotted with similarly muted homes, in a variety of colors that help them stand out amidst the harsh landscape.

Here's a look at the floor plan, to help you piece together the layout of the home's interior. The open design makes for a deceptively simple, highly useful space.

Here’s a look at the floor plan, to help you piece together the layout of the home’s interior. The open design makes for a deceptively simple, highly useful space.

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(c) 2015

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